RESUMEN
The precise temporal relation between pre- and postsynaptic activity modulates the strength of synaptic connections. Despite its extensive characterization in vivo and in vitro, the degree to which spike timing-dependent plasticity can shape receptive field properties is unclear. We use in vivo patch-clamp recordings of tectal neurons in developing Xenopus tadpoles to control the precise timing of action potentials with respect to the arrival of a subset of visual inputs evoked by local light stimulation on the retina. The pattern of visual inputs onto a tectal neuron was tracked over time by rapid reverse correlation mapping of receptive fields. Spike timing-dependent potentiation or depression of a subset of synapses reliably shifts the spatial receptive fields toward or away from the trained subregion of visual space, respectively. These results demonstrate that natural patterns of activity evoked by sensory stimuli play an instructive role in the developing nervous system.
Asunto(s)
Neuronas/fisiología , Retina/fisiología , Colículos Superiores/fisiología , Campos Visuales/fisiología , Vías Visuales/citología , Potenciales de Acción/fisiología , Potenciales de Acción/efectos de la radiación , Animales , Mapeo Encefálico , Potenciales Evocados/fisiología , Potenciales Evocados/efectos de la radiación , Larva , Neuronas/efectos de la radiación , Técnicas de Placa-Clamp , Estimulación Luminosa , Factores de Tiempo , Percepción Visual/fisiología , XenopusRESUMEN
Spike-timing dependent plasticity has been associated with neural development, learning, and memory. Recently, this mechanism was found to stabilize spike timing relationships across populations of neurons in the locust olfactory system.