# Parvalbumin interneurons: the dark and bright sides of a key playmaker of neural circuits and behavior

## TL;DR

This paper reviews parvalbumin interneurons, their role in brain circuits, and how their dysfunction can lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

## Contribution

The paper provides an updated overview of parvalbumin interneurons and suggests new directions for future research.

## Key findings

- Parvalbumin interneurons are crucial for hippocampal and cortical circuit dynamics and cognitive functions.
- Dysfunction of these interneurons is linked to neurological and psychiatric disorders like epilepsy.
- Some disruptions caused by parvalbumin interneuron dysfunction may be reversible.

## Abstract

With their morphological and electrophysiological properties as well as exceptional connectivity, parvalbumin interneurons play a major role in the dynamics of the neural circuits of the hippocampus and cortex, along with associated cognitive functions. Their dysfunction, which is sometimes reversible, contributes to significant disruptions in network activity and behavioral deficits related to various diseases such as epilepsies or neuropsychiatric disorders. In this Mini Review, we present these parvalbumin interneurons, their characteristics, pathophysiological roles, and propose avenues for future investigations.