UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Storage of spatiotemporal input sequences in dendrites of pyramidal neurons

Macak, M; (2016) Storage of spatiotemporal input sequences in dendrites of pyramidal neurons. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access

[thumbnail of Macak-Matej_PhD_Thesis_Post-corrections.pdf]
Preview
Text
Macak-Matej_PhD_Thesis_Post-corrections.pdf - Submitted Version

Download (7MB) | Preview

Abstract

Plastic changes in neurons are widely considered to underpin the formation and maintenance of memory. The mechanisms of induction and expression of plasticity are, therefore, crucial to our understanding of the capacity of information storage that neurons possess. Using two-photon glutamate uncaging and whole-cell electrophysiological recordings, I demonstrate that dendrites of neurons are capable of preferentially storing specific spatiotemporal sequences, and describe the physiological properties of this new form of plasticity. Such plastic changes are dependent on Ca2+ influx through NMDA receptors, which is consistent with previous reports regarding induction of potentiation. Using two-photon Ca2+ imaging, I demonstrate that spatiotemporal plasticity is a result of a distinct homogeneous spatial increase in Ca2+ influx of different spatiotemporal sequences. Using the NEURON simulation environment, I used my experimental findings to perform simulations of synaptic plasticity rules. I found that homogeneous increases in synaptic strength across the dendrite can result in the spatiotemporal plasticity that I empirically observed. Moreover, I employed a genetic optimization algorithm and parallelized simulations to show that such changes are within physiological parameters observed in cortical neurons. My PhD therefore describes a novel form of plasticity, and proposes that dendrites are capable of more extensive information storage than was previously assumed.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: Storage of spatiotemporal input sequences in dendrites of pyramidal neurons
Event: UCL
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1505852
Downloads since deposit
0Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item