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Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection

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Rules for Shaping Neural Connections in the Developing Brain.

Elena Kutsarova¹, Martin Munz², Edward S Ruthazer¹

¹Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada.

Frontiers in Neural Circuits

|January 26, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Spontaneous brain activity guides sensory circuit development. Specific firing patterns instruct neuronal connectivity, a process studied non-invasively in fish and amphibians.

Keywords:

Hebbian plasticity activity-dependent colliculus optic tectum retinal ganglion cell retinotectal review visual system

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Spontaneous neural activity is crucial for establishing mature sensory circuits in mammals.
Altering neural firing patterns during development suggests activity patterns instruct circuit refinement.
Sensory input drives patterned activity during initial projection and innervation in fish and amphibians.

Purpose of the Study:

To review literature on activity-dependent circuit refinement in sensory systems.
To formalize mechanistic rules for transforming patterned activity into accurate neuronal connectivity.
To highlight insights from non-invasive live imaging in simpler vertebrate models.

Main Methods:

Review of classic and recent literature.
Analysis of experiments involving spontaneous and evoked neural activity.
Utilizing live imaging in fish and amphibians for non-invasive observation.

Main Results:

Spontaneous and evoked activity patterns play an instructive role in sensory circuit refinement.
Neurons read out and respond to specific activity patterns during development.
Non-invasive live imaging provides key insights into neural circuit formation.

Conclusions:

Patterned neural activity is a fundamental mechanism for accurate neuronal connectivity.
Mechanistic rules can be formalized to explain activity-dependent circuit refinement.
Simpler vertebrate models offer valuable insights into developmental neurobiology.