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Learning excitatory-inhibitory neuronal assemblies in recurrent networks
Owen Mackwood1,2, Laura B Naumann1,2, Henning Sprekeler1,2
1Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Elife
|April 26, 2021
Summary
Synaptic plasticity in inhibitory circuits forms excitatory-inhibitory neuronal assemblies in the mouse visual cortex. This process refines inhibitory circuits, shaping cortical computations and neuronal competition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding brain connectivity and its emergence from local plasticity rules is a major challenge.
- In mouse primary visual cortex (V1), excitatory-inhibitory (E/I) neuronal assemblies show stimulus-specific feedback inhibition.
- These assemblies involve stronger synapses between pyramidal neurons and parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons for neurons with similar stimulus preferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how activity-dependent synaptic plasticity on PV interneurons generates V1 circuit structure.
- To determine the role of plasticity in forming E/I neuronal assemblies.
- To explore how these assemblies influence cortical computations.
Main Methods:
- Computational modeling of synaptic plasticity in PV interneurons.
- Simulating the formation of E/I neuronal assemblies.
- Analyzing the impact of plasticity on circuit structure and neuronal competition.
Main Results:
- Activity-dependent plasticity on both input and output synapses of PV interneurons generates V1 circuit structure.
- Synergistic action of both plasticity forms is required for E/I assembly formation.
- Established assemblies lead to stimulus-specific competition among pyramidal neurons.
Conclusions:
- Activity-dependent plasticity refines inhibitory circuits.
- This refinement actively shapes cortical computations.
- The study provides a model for understanding inhibitory circuit development and function in V1.
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