Abstract
The balance between excitation and inhibition (E-I balance) is maintained across brain regions though the network size, strength and number of synaptic connections, and connection architecture may vary substantially. We use a culture preparation to examine the homeostatic synaptic scaling rules that produce E-I balance and in vivo-like activity. We show that synaptic strength scales with the number of connections K as circ;1/4, close to the ideal theoretical value. Using optogenetic techniques, we delivered spatiotemporally patterned stimuli to neurons and confirmed key theoretical predictions: E-I balance is maintained, active decorrelation occurs and the spiking correlation increases with firing rate. Moreover, the trial-to-trial response variability decreased during stimulation, as observed in vivo. These results - obtained in generic cultures, predicted by theory and observed in the intact brain - suggest that the synaptic scaling rule and resultant dynamics are emergent properties of networks in general.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1690-1696 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature Neuroscience |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2016 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience