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Sensory experience modifies the short-term dynamics of neocortical synapses

Nature volume 400, pages 367–371 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Many representations of sensory stimuli in the neocortex are arranged as topographic maps. These cortical maps are not fixed, but show experience-dependent plasticity1,2. For instance, sensory deprivation causes the cortical area representing the deprived sensory input to shrink, and neighbouring spared representations to enlarge, in somatosensory3, auditory4 or visual cortex5. In adolescent and adult animals, changes in cortical maps are most noticeable in the supragranular layers at the junction of deprived and spared cortex6,7,8,9. However, the cellular mechanisms of this experience-dependent plasticity are unclear. Long-term potentiation and depression have been implicated10,11,12, but have not been proven to be necessary or sufficient for cortical map reorganization. Short-term synaptic dynamics have not been considered. We developed a brain slice preparation involving rat whisker barrel cortex in vitro. Here we report that sensory deprivation alters short-term synaptic dynamics in both vertical and horizontal excitatory pathways within the supragranular cortex. Moreover, modifications of horizontal pathways amplify changes in the vertical inputs. Our findings help to explain the functional cortical reorganization that follows persistent changes of sensory experience.

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Figure 1: ‘Across whisker barrel row’ brain slice preparation.
Figure 2: Short-term synaptic dynamics of horizontal pathways.
Figure 3: Short-term synaptic dynamics of vertical pathways.
Figure 4: Sensory deprivation changes synaptic strength and synaptic efficacy.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Wellcome Trust Advanced Training Fellowship to G.T.F. and a grant to B.W.C. from NIH. We thank S. Patrick for technical assistance with histology; A.Akima for discussions on the optimal slicing angle; D. Pinto for checking the mathematics; and M.Bear, J. Gibson, M. Beierlein and D. Pinto for helpful comments on a earlier version of the manuscript. G.T.F. thanks R. Jones and D. Smith for encouragement with the current project.

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  1. Gerald T. Finnerty

    Present address: Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University Walk, Bristol, BS81TD, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, 02912, Rhode Island, USA

    Gerald T. Finnerty, Langdon S. E. Roberts & Barry W. Connors

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  1. Gerald T. Finnerty
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  2. Langdon S. E. Roberts
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  3. Barry W. Connors
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Correspondence to Barry W. Connors.

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Finnerty, G., Roberts, L. & Connors, B. Sensory experience modifies the short-term dynamics of neocortical synapses. Nature 400, 367–371 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/22553

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