Shining light on spike timing-dependent plasticity
1McGovern Institute for Brain Research, 46-4165 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Neuron
|April 8, 2006
Abstract:
Although spike timing-dependent plasticity has been well-characterized in vitro, it is less clear to what degree spike timing-dependent plasticity contributes to shaping visual system properties in vivo. In this issue of Neuron, two papers by Vislay-Meltzer et al. and Mu and Poo provide evidence that STDP contributes to the effects of sensory stimuli in refinement of the retinotectal system in Xenopus.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:35Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.