Premium
The role of sensory experience in presynaptic development is cortical area specific
Author(s) -
Cheetham Claire E. J.,
Fox Kevin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.218347
Subject(s) - barrel cortex , neuroscience , excitatory postsynaptic potential , sensory system , visual cortex , sensory deprivation , synapse , stimulus (psychology) , neuroplasticity , neural facilitation , sensory stimulation therapy , psychology , biology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , psychotherapist
Non‐technical summary The visual cortex and the somatosensory whisker ‘barrel’ cortex are widely studied model systems of experience‐dependent plasticity, which enables the brain to adapt to changes in the environment and is required for recovery in conditions such as stroke. It is known that presynaptic development of excitatory synapses in the cortex involves a decrease in the probability of neurotransmitter release, and a change in the dynamic properties of synapses during repetitive stimulation. These changes enable synapses in the mature brain to perform more complex functions. However, it is not known whether these developmental changes are dependent on sensory experience. In this study, we show that sensory experience is required for normal presynaptic development in barrel cortex, but not in visual cortex. Therefore, the role of sensory experience in synaptic development varies between different cortical areas. These findings are important for understanding how experience shapes neuronal circuitry during development and in disease.