Modelling plasticity in dendrites: from single cells to networks.

Modelling plasticity in dendrites: from single cells to networks.
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2017 Sep 07;46:136-141
Authors: Bono J, Wilmes KA, Clopath C
Abstract
One of the key questions in neuroscience is how our brain self-organises to efficiently process information. To answer this question, we need to understand the underlying mechanisms of plasticity and their role in shaping synaptic connectivity. Theoretical neuroscience typically investigates plasticity on the level of neural networks. Neural network models often consist of point neurons, completely neglecting neuronal morphology for reasons of simplicity. However, during the past decades it became increasingly clear that inputs are locally processed in the dendrites before they reach the cell body. Dendritic properties enable local interactions between synapses and location-dependent modulations of inputs, rendering the position of synapses on dendrites highly important. These insights changed our view of neurons, such that we now think of them as small networks of nearly independent subunits instead of a simple point. Here, we propose that understanding how the brain processes information strongly requires that we consider the following properties: which plasticity mechanisms are present in the dendrites and how do they enable the self-organisation of synapses across the dendritic tree for efficient information processing? Ultimately, dendritic plasticity mechanisms can be studi...

Source: Current Opinion in Neurobiology - September 7, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Bono J, Wilmes KA, Clopath C Tags: Curr Opin Neurobiol Source Type: research