Impaired folate metabolism reshapes auditory response profiles and impairs loudness perception in MTHFR-deficient mice

Abstract

Folate metabolism, regulated by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), is crucial for proper neurodevelopment, and disruptions—whether due to genetic polymorphisms or maternal nutritional deficits—have been linked to cognitive and behavioral impairments. Notably, MTHFR-deficient mouse models display altered social interaction and auditory communication, hinting at disruptions in auditory-related circuits and prompting the question of whether impaired folate metabolism might also affect sound processing and perception. Here, using two-photon calcium imaging, we show that MTHFR deficiency increases both spontaneous and sound-evoked activity in the auditory cortex and significantly shifts neuronal response profiles, which in turn elevates perceived loudness while reducing sound-level discrimination. These findings underscore the potential role of compromised folate metabolism in driving the atypical auditory responses and may have broader relevance for understanding sensory dysfunction in various neurodevelopmental conditions.