Depressed by Learning-Heterogeneity of the Plasticity Rules at Parallel Fiber Synapses onto Purkinje Cells

Aparna Suvrathan; Jennifer L Raymond

doi:10.1007/s12311-018-0968-8

Depressed by Learning-Heterogeneity of the Plasticity Rules at Parallel Fiber Synapses onto Purkinje Cells

Cerebellum. 2018 Dec;17(6):747-755. doi: 10.1007/s12311-018-0968-8.

Authors

Aparna Suvrathan¹, Jennifer L Raymond²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatrics, Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal General Hospital, Montréal, Quebec, H3G 1A4, Canada.
² Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. jenr@stanford.edu.

Abstract

Climbing fiber-driven long-term depression (LTD) of parallel fiber synapses onto cerebellar Purkinje cells has long been investigated as a putative mechanism of motor learning. We recently discovered that the rules governing the induction of LTD at these synapses vary across different regions of the cerebellum. Here, we discuss the design of LTD induction protocols in light of this heterogeneity in plasticity rules. The analytical advantages of the cerebellum provide an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how the specific plasticity rules at synapses support the implementation of learning.

Keywords: Associative plasticity; Heterogeneity; Learning; Long-term depression; Oculomotor; Purkinje cell; Short-term depression; Synaptic plasticity.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Learning / physiology*
Motor Activity / physiology
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Purkinje Cells / physiology*
Synapses / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding