Input Specificity and Dependence of Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity on Preceding Postsynaptic Activity at Unitary Connections between Neocortical Layer 2/3 Pyramidal Cells

What is it about?

Memory formation is thought to be a result of a long-term modification of connections between neurons. This modification is called synaptic plasticity, and there are many different forms of it, each with its own specific requirement for formation. Here we show for the first time that main neurons in the cortex layer 2/3 form very specific connections with each other, and that synaptic plasticity occurring at these connections is quite different from those coming from other cortical areas (in how it is established, its "algorithm"). Popular theory until now states that neurons differentiate excitatory input from different cortical areas by spatially separating them on their dendrites. Our data disputes this theory by showing that neurons can recognise their neighbours and differentiate their input from far-off connections, even if the connection locations are intermixed spatially. Accordingly, these connections between neighbouring neurons are quite different and distinct, suggesting a way of recognition and specificity.

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