Hebb and homeostasis in neuronal plasticity
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Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Published on: September 20, 2024
1Department of Biology and Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. turrigiano@brandeis.edu
Abstract:
The positive-feedback nature of Hebbian plasticity can destabilize the properties of neuronal networks. Recent work has demonstrated that this destabilizing influence is counteracted by a number of homeostatic plasticity mechanisms that stabilize neuronal activity. Such mechanisms include global changes in synaptic strengths, changes in neuronal excitability, and the regulation of synapse number. These recent studies suggest that Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity often target the same molecular substrates, and have opposing effects on synaptic or neuronal properties. These advances significantly broaden our framework for understanding the effects of activity on synaptic function and neuronal excitability.
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