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Cited by 582Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchVisual perception and processing mechanismsNeural dynamics and brain function

Critical periods for experience-dependent synaptic scaling in visual cortex

Desai, Niraj S., Cudmore, Robert H., Nelson, Sacha B., Turrigiano, Gina G.·2002·Nature Neuroscience
DOI 10.1038/nn878
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Abstract

The mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity and refinement of central circuits are not yet fully understood. A non-Hebbian form of synaptic plasticity, which scales synaptic strengths up or down to stabilize firing rates, has recently been discovered in cultured neuronal networks. Here we demonstrate the existence of a similar mechanism in the intact rodent visual cortex. The frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in principal neurons increased steeply between post-natal days 12 and 23. There was a concomitant decrease in mEPSC amplitude, which was prevented by rearing rats in complete darkness from 12 days of age. In addition, as little as two days of monocular deprivation scaled up mEPSC amplitude in a layer- and age-dependent manner. These data indicate that mEPSC amplitudes can be globally scaled up or down as a function of development and sensory experience, and suggest that synaptic scaling may be involved in the activity-dependent refinement of cortical connectivity.

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  • Modulating network activity induces uniform increases or decreases in the entire mini amplitude distribution, scaling postsynaptic strength up or down.

    “by measuring minis arising from many synapses onto the same neuron, it was observed that modulating network activity induced uniform increases or decreases in the entire mini amplitude distribution, in effect scaling postsynaptic strength up or down (Turrigiano et al. 1998;Desai et al. 2002;Gainey et al. 2009).”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Desai et al. 2002

  • Synaptic scaling has been shown in a variety of central neurons both in vitro and in vivo, including neocortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons and spinal neurons.

    “Synaptic scaling has now been shown in a variety of central neurons both in vitro and in vivo, including neocortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons and spinal neurons (O'Brien et al. 1998;Turrigiano et al. 1998;Desai et al. 2002;Stellwagen and Malenka 2006;Goel and Lee 2007;Kim and Tsien 2008;Knogler et al. 2010).”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Desai et al. 2002

  • In visual cortex during the second and third postnatal weeks when synaptogenesis is high, there is an inverse relationship between frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs onto pyramidal neurons, and this can be prevented by raising animals in the dark.

    “Similarly, in visual cortex during the second and third postnatal weeks when synaptogenesis is high, there is an inverse relationship between the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs onto pyramidal neurons, and this can be prevented by raising animals in the dark (Desai et al. 2002).”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Desai et al. 2002

  • Visual deprivation induced by optic nerve block scales up mEPSC amplitude in vivo as in vitro, and results in insertion of GluA2-containing AMPAR.

    “Visual deprivation induced by optic nerve block scale ups mEPSC amplitude in vivo as in vitro, and results in insertion of GluA2-containing AMPAR (Desai et al. 2002;Maffei and Turrigiano 2008;Gainey et al. 2009).”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Desai et al. 2002

  • In visual cortex, expression of synaptic scaling is developmentally regulated: it is expressed by layer 4 pyramidal neurons early in postnatal development, then turns off in layer 4 and begins in layer 2/3 around the opening of the classical visual system critical period, persisting into adulthood.

    “In visual cortex the expression of synaptic scaling is developmentally regulated (Desai et al. 2002;Maffei et al. 2004Maffei et al. , 2006;;Maffei and Turrigiano 2008); synaptic scaling is expressed by pyramidal neurons in layer 4 early in postnatal development, but then turns off in layer 4 and begins to be expressed in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons around the opening of the classical visual system”

    From Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity: Local and Global Mechanisms for Stabilizing Neuronal Function (2012) · cites this paper as Desai et al. 2002

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Authors
Desai, N. S., Cudmore, R. H., Nelson, S. B., & Turrigiano, G. G.
Affiliations
Brandeis University (US)
Corresponding author
Turrigiano, Gina G.
ORCID
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2002-06-24
Volume
5
Issue
8
Pages
783-789
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
DOI
10.1038/nn878
OpenAlex
W2036029991
Cited by
582
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 24
FWCI
7.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ey011116-07)
  • National Eye Institute (EY11116)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS-36853, R01NS036853)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
synaptic scaling, experience-dependent plasticity, visual cortex, critical period, miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, monocular deprivation, principal neurons, postnatal development
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Critical Period, Psychological, Darkness, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Sensory Deprivation, Synapses, Tetrodotoxin, Visual Cortex, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Receptors, AMPA, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists, GABA Antagonists, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats, GABA-A Receptor Antagonists, In Vitro Techniques

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