0000000000614591
AUTHOR
Christoph Kolodziejski
Synaptic Scaling Enables Dynamically Distinct Short- and Long-Term Memory Formation
Memory storage in the brain relies on mechanisms acting on time scales from minutes, for long-term synaptic potentiation, to days, for memory consolidation. During such processes, neural circuits distinguish synapses relevant for forming a long-term storage, which are consolidated, from synapses of short-term storage, which fade. How time scale integration and synaptic differentiation is simultaneously achieved remains unclear. Here we show that synaptic scaling – a slow process usually associated with the maintenance of activity homeostasis – combined with synaptic plasticity may simultaneously achieve both, thereby providing a natural separation of short- from long-term storage. The inter…
Synaptic scaling generically stabilizes circuit connectivity
Neural systems regulate synaptic plasticity avoiding overly strong growth or shrinkage of the connections, thereby keeping the circuit architecture operational. Accordingly, several experimental studies have shown that synaptic weights increase only in direct relation to their current value, resulting in reduced growth for stronger synapses [1]. It is, however, difficult to extract from these studies unequivocal evidence about the underlying biophysical mechanisms that control weight growth. The theoretical neurosciences have addressed this problem by exploring mechanisms for synaptic weight change that contain limiting factors to regulate growth [2]. The effectiveness of these mechanisms i…