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Synaptic depression: a key player in the cortical balancing act

Nature Neuroscience volume 1, pages 539–541 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

What regulates the balance between cortical excitation and inhibition? Galaretta and Hestrin show that prolonged firing induces a much stronger depression at excitatory synapses than at inhibitory ones, making the network more stable and less prone to runaway excitation.

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Figure 1: Differential synaptic depression dynamically adjusts the balance between cortical excitation and inhibition to promote stability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Center for Complex Systems, MS 8, Brandeis University, Waltham, 02454, Massachusetts, USA

    Sacha B. Nelson & Gina G. Turrigiano

  2. Sacha B. Nelson & Gina G. Turrigiano

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  1. Sacha B. Nelson
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  2. Gina G. Turrigiano
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Nelson, S., Turrigiano, G. Synaptic depression: a key player in the cortical balancing act. Nat Neurosci 1, 539–541 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/2775

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