Donald O. Hebb conceived of the cell assembly - a small network whose neurons fire in stereotyped sequences - to represent a memory trace. These cell assemblies are believed to underlie persistent activity patterns observed in many experimental preparations. However, it is unknown how these assemblies develop ex nihilo from a population of developing neurons, and how an assembly can retain stability once it emerges. The first of these questions bears directly on how memory traces can emerge in the brain. The second question is of direct relevance to epilepsy, a pathology characterized by unstable, hyperexcitable neuronal networks. Rat hippocampal culture provides a model system for studying these questions. In addition to being a highly tractable system, it supports the spontaneous development of reverberatory circuits, a hallmark of cell assemblies. Using this system in combination with perforated patch clamp recordings, I will examine the reciprocal relationship between activity-dependent synaptic plasticity and Hebbian cell assemblies. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH077430-02
Application #
7273661
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03B-G (20))
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2006-07-01
Project End
2008-02-29
Budget Start
2007-07-01
Budget End
2008-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$30,342
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Gerkin, Richard C; Nauen, David W; Xu, Fang et al. (2013) Homeostatic regulation of spontaneous and evoked synaptic transmission in two steps. Mol Brain 6:38
Gerkin, Richard C; Lau, Pak-Ming; Nauen, David W et al. (2007) Modular competition driven by NMDA receptor subtypes in spike-timing-dependent plasticity. J Neurophysiol 97:2851-62