A Burst-Based “Hebbian” Learning Rule at Retinogeniculate Synapses Links Retinal Waves to Activity-Dependent Refinement

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050061
• Publication Date: 2007-02-27T16:39:19Z
• Authors: Daniel A Butts; Patrick O Kanold; Carla J Shatz
• Keywords: Hebbian theory; Retinal waves; Lateral geniculate nucleus; Bursting; Geniculate

Patterned spontaneous activity in the developing retina is necessary to drive synaptic refinement lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Using perforated patch recordings from neurons LGN slices during period of eye segregation, we examine how such burst-based can instruct this refinement. Retinogeniculate synapses have a novel learning rule that depends on latencies between pre- and postsynaptic bursts order one second: coincident produce long-lasting enhancement, whereas non-overlapping mild weakening. It consistent with "Hebbian" development thought exist at synapse, demonstrate computationally robustly use retinal waves segregation retinotopic Thus, by measuring plasticity induced natural patterns, rules be linked directly their larger role instructing patterning neural connectivity.