Learning the structure of correlated synaptic subgroups using stable and competitive spike-timing-dependent...

Synaptic plasticity must be both competitive and stable if ongoing learning of the structure of neural inputs is to occur. In this paper, a wide class of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) models is identified that have both of these desirable properties in the case in which the input consists of subgroups of synapses that are correlated within the subgroup through the occurrence of simultaneous input spikes. The process of synaptic structure formation is studied, illustrating one particular class of these models. When the learning rate is small, multiple alternative synaptic structures are possible given the same inputs, with the outcome depending on the initial weight configuration. For large learning rates, the synaptic structure does not stabilize, resulting in neurons without consistent response properties. For learning rates in between, a unique and stable synaptic structure typically forms. When this synaptic structure exhibits a bimodal distribution, the neuron will respond selectively to one or more of the subgroups. The robustness with which this selectivity develops during learning is largely determined by the ratio of the subgroup correlation strength to the number of subgroups. The fraction of potentiated subgroups is primarily determined by the balance between potentiation and depression.