Before the onset of sensory transduction, developing neural circuits spontaneously generate
correlated activity in distinct spatial and temporal patterns. During this period of patterned …

In order to accurately process incoming sensory stimuli, neurons must be organized into
functional networks, with both genetic and environmental factors influencing the precise …

The formation of precise connections between retina and lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)
involves the activity-dependent elimination of some synapses, with strengthening and …

The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus is the exclusive relay of retinal
information en route to the visual cortex. Although much of our understanding about dLGN …

The dendritic protrusions known as spines represent the primary postsynaptic location for
excitatory synapses. Dendritic spines are critical for many synaptic functions, and their …

Neuronal plasticity is an essential property of the brain that is impaired in different
neurological conditions. Phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1) inhibitors can enhance levels of …

Mutations in MECP2 underlie the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). One
hallmark of RTT is relatively normal development followed by a later onset of symptoms …

During development, neurons are constantly refining their connections in response to
changes in activity. Experience-dependent plasticity is a key form of synaptic plasticity …

A hallmark of mammalian neural circuit development is the refinement of initially imprecise
connections by competitive activity-dependent processes. In the developing visual system …

Spike time dependent plasticity (STDP) has been observed in both developing and adult
animals. Theoretical studies suggest that it implicitly leads to both competition and …