Access
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Letter
Nature 457, 313-317 (15 January 2009) | doi:10.1038/nature07487; Received 9 July 2008; Accepted 2 October 2008; Published online 12 November 2008
Open Innovation Challenges
-
Efficient Chromosome Doubling: Plant Cell Division
The Seeker is looking for an efficient chromosome doubling method in plants and in particular, metho...
-
Fast Growth of Transformed Soybean Shoots
A method for accelerating growth of soybean shoots is desired.
nature jobs
2 Post-Doctoral Positions
- German Cancer Research Center
- Heidelberg 69120 Germany
Postdoctoral Position, Endocrine Unit
- MGH-Harvard Medical School
- MGH, 50 Blossom Street, Boston MA 02114
Experience leaves a lasting structural trace in cortical circuits
Sonja B. Hofer1,2, Thomas D. Mrsic-Flogel1,2, Tobias Bonhoeffer1 & Mark Hübener1
- Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
- Present address: Department of Physiology, University College London, London WC1 6JJ, UK.
Correspondence to: Mark Hübener1 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to M.H. (Email: mark@neuro.mpg.de).
Abstract
Sensory experiences exert a powerful influence on the function and future performance of neuronal circuits in the mammalian neocortex1, 2, 3. Restructuring of synaptic connections is believed to be one mechanism by which cortical circuits store information about the sensory world4, 5. Excitatory synaptic structures, such as dendritic spines, are dynamic entities6, 7, 8 that remain sensitive to alteration of sensory input throughout life6, 9. It remains unclear, however, whether structural changes at the level of dendritic spines can outlast the original experience and thereby provide a morphological basis for long-term information storage. Here we follow spine dynamics on apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in functionally defined regions of adult mouse visual cortex during plasticity of eye-specific responses induced by repeated closure of one eye (monocular deprivation). The first monocular deprivation episode doubled the rate of spine formation, thereby increasing spine density. This effect was specific to layer-5 cells located in binocular cortex, where most neurons increase their responsiveness to the non-deprived eye3, 10. Restoring binocular vision returned spine dynamics to baseline levels, but absolute spine density remained elevated and many monocular deprivation-induced spines persisted during this period of functional recovery. However, spine addition did not increase again when the same eye was closed for a second time. This absence of structural plasticity stands out against the robust changes of eye-specific responses that occur even faster after repeated deprivation3. Thus, spines added during the first monocular deprivation experience may provide a structural basis for subsequent functional shifts. These results provide a strong link between functional plasticity and specific synaptic rearrangements, revealing a mechanism of how prior experiences could be stored in cortical circuits.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Synapses, scaling and homeostasis in vivoNature Neuroscience News and Views (01 Aug 2002)
Visual machinery of the brainNature News and Views (12 Nov 1981)
See all 3 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
Lengthening the G1 phase of neural progenitor cells is concurrent with an increase of symmetric neuron generating division after strokeJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism Original Article
Genetic Heterogeneity of KID Syndrome: Identification of a Cx30 Gene (GJB6) Mutation in a Patient with KID Syndrome and Congenital AtrichiaJournal of Investigative Dermatology Original Article
See all 70 matches for Research
