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Experience leaves a lasting structural trace in cortical circuits

Author

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  • Sonja B. Hofer

    (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
    Present address: Department of Physiology, University College London, London WC1 6JJ, UK.)

  • Thomas D. Mrsic-Flogel

    (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
    Present address: Department of Physiology, University College London, London WC1 6JJ, UK.)

  • Tobias Bonhoeffer

    (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology)

  • Mark Hübener

    (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology)

Abstract

Learning from experience It is common knowledge that early experience improves the brain's ability to adapt to similar events in the future, but it is not clear how the original experience is represented in neuronal circuits, or how it contributes to re-learning. The model of the temporary closure of one eye in mice provides a system in which such questions can be tackled. The new experience — monocular vision — induces growth of dendritic spines from nerve cells in the visual cortex. By alternating periods of monocular and binocular vision and following the morphology of the nerve cells for several days, Hofer et al. were able to record the experience-induced structural changes and to discover if they outlast the experience itself. They find that long-lived dendritic spine density increases in response to monocular deprivation and persists beyond the duration of the experience. Subsequent deprivation fails to induce further spine density increases, suggesting initial experience may provide a structural experience 'trace' that can be utilized in response to further functional shifts.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonja B. Hofer & Thomas D. Mrsic-Flogel & Tobias Bonhoeffer & Mark Hübener, 2009. "Experience leaves a lasting structural trace in cortical circuits," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7227), pages 313-317, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:457:y:2009:i:7227:d:10.1038_nature07487
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07487
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    Cited by:

    1. Sanne Ten Oever & Alexander T. Sack & Carina R. Oehrn & Nikolai Axmacher, 2021. "An engram of intentionally forgotten information," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Yichen Zhang & Gan He & Lei Ma & Xiaofei Liu & J. J. Johannes Hjorth & Alexander Kozlov & Yutao He & Shenjian Zhang & Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski & Yonghong Tian & Sten Grillner & Kai Du & Tiejun Huan, 2023. "A GPU-based computational framework that bridges neuron simulation and artificial intelligence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Ioannis P. Kotsalas & Anna Antoniou & Michael Scoullos, 2017. "Decoding Mass Media Techniques and Education for Sustainable Development," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 11(2), pages 102-122, September.
    4. Michael Fauth & Florentin Wörgötter & Christian Tetzlaff, 2015. "Formation and Maintenance of Robust Long-Term Information Storage in the Presence of Synaptic Turnover," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Michael Fauth & Florentin Wörgötter & Christian Tetzlaff, 2015. "The Formation of Multi-synaptic Connections by the Interaction of Synaptic and Structural Plasticity and Their Functional Consequences," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-29, January.
    6. Zhiwei Xu & Erez Geron & Luis M. Pérez-Cuesta & Yang Bai & Wen-Biao Gan, 2023. "Generalized extinction of fear memory depends on co-allocation of synaptic plasticity in dendrites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.

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