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Reverberatory Activity in Neuronal Networks

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Coherent Behavior in Neuronal Networks

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Computational Neuroscience ((NEUROSCI,volume 3))

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Abstract

Reverberatory activity in neuronal cell assemblies has been proposed to carry “online” memory traces in the brain. However, the dynamics and cellular mechanism of such reverberation have been difficult to study because of the enormous complexity of intact circuits. To overcome this difficulty, small networks of interconnected neurons have been grown in culture dishes to provide a model system for studies using patch-clamp recording and fluorescent imaging approaches. In such networks, brief stimulation could elicit rhythmic reverberation that consists of repeating motifs of specific patterns of population activation in the network. Experimental and modeling analysis suggested that the reverberation is driven by recurrent excitation, is sustained by the oft-overlooked asynchronous synaptic transmission modulated by intracellular calcium, and is terminated by a slow component of short-term synaptic depression. More recent data suggest that Hebbian synaptic plasticity could underlie activity-induced emergence of reverberation. Thus, these in vitro networks may serve as prototypic Hebbian cell assemblies for the study of potential mechanisms of information representation and storage in brain circuits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Guo-Qiang Bi

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  1. Pak-Ming Lau
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  2. Guo-Qiang Bi
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Correspondence to Guo-Qiang Bi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mathematics, University of Houston, Phillip G. Hoffman Hall 651, Houston, 77204-3008, U.S.A.

    Kre¿imir Josic

  2. Dept. Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Thackeray Hall 301, Pittsburgh, 15260, U.S.A.

    Jonathan Rubin

  3. Universitat de les Illes Balears, CSIC, Palma de Mallorca, 07122, Spain

    Manuel Matias

  4. Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, 04510, Mexico

    Ranulfo Romo

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Lau, PM., Bi, GQ. (2009). Reverberatory Activity in Neuronal Networks. In: Josic, K., Rubin, J., Matias, M., Romo, R. (eds) Coherent Behavior in Neuronal Networks. Springer Series in Computational Neuroscience, vol 3. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0389-1_4

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