Cellular mechanisms of synaptic and non-synaptic plasticity in cerebellar circuits

old_uid5241
titleCellular mechanisms of synaptic and non-synaptic plasticity in cerebellar circuits
start_date2008/09/05
schedule11h30
onlineno
detailsInvitation : Claire Piochon et Carole Levenes (UMR 7102)
summaryOne of the hallmark features of the brain is its enormous degree of  plasticity. Neural circuits can store information and learn by varying the  efficacy of synaptic transmission. For example, it is widely assumed that  forms of cerebellar motor learning are mediated by long-term depression (LTD) at synapses formed by parallel fiber inputs onto Purkinje cells.  Recent years have shown, however, that there are more forms of synaptic and non-synaptic (intrinsic) plasticity in cerebellar circuits. This seminar will discuss the molecular details of these various forms of plasticity, and describe how they interact with each other. A particular focus will be on a novel type of intrinsic excitability alteration in Purkinje cells, which we believe to complement LTD and its counterpart, long-term potentiation (LTP), in supporting cerebellar motor coordination and motor learning.
responsiblesTchang