Title | Metaplasticity governs natural experience-driven plasticity of nascent embryonic brain circuits. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Dunfield D, Haas K |
Journal | Neuron |
Volume | 64 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 240-50 |
Date Published | 2009 Oct 29 |
ISSN | 1097-4199 |
Keywords | 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate, Action Potentials, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Biophysics, Brain, Calcium, Electric Stimulation, Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists, Long-Term Potentiation, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Neurons, Photic Stimulation, Statistics as Topic, Superior Colliculi, Synapses, Visual Pathways, Xenopus laevis |
Abstract | During embryogenesis, brain neurons receiving the same sensory input may undergo potentiation or depression. While the origin of variable plasticity in vivo is unknown, it plays a key role in shaping dynamic neural circuit refinement. Here, we investigate effects of natural visual stimuli on neuronal firing within the intact, awake, developing brain using calcium imaging of 100 s of central neurons in the Xenopus retinotectal system. We find that specific patterns of visual stimuli shift population responses toward either potentiation or depression in an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R)-dependent manner. In agreement with Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro metaplasticity, our results show that functional potentiation or depression can be predicted by individual neurons' specific receptive field properties and historic firing rates. Interestingly, this activity-dependent metaplasticity is itself NMDA-R dependent. Furthermore, network analysis reveals increased correlated firing of neurons that undergo potentiation. These findings implicate metaplasticity as a natural property regulating experience-dependent refinement of nascent embryonic brain circuits. |
URL | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19874791 |
DOI | 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.08.034 |
Alternate Journal | Neuron |
PubMed ID | 19874791 |
Grant List | / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada |