Title
Self-Organization Of Microcircuits In Networks Of Spiking Neurons With Plastic Synapses
Abstract
The synaptic connectivity of cortical networks features an overrepresentation of certain wiring motifs compared to simple random-network models. This structure is shaped, in part, by synaptic plasticity that promotes or suppresses connections between neurons depending on their joint spiking activity. Frequently, theoretical studies focus on how feedforward inputs drive plasticity to create this network structure. We study the complementary scenario of self-organized structure in a recurrent network, with spike timing-dependent plasticity driven by spontaneous dynamics. We develop a self-consistent theory for the evolution of network structure by combining fast spiking covariance with a slow evolution of synaptic weights. Through a finite-size expansion of network dynamics we obtain a low-dimensional set of nonlinear differential equations for the evolution of two-synapse connectivity motifs. With this theory in hand, we explore how the form of the plasticity rule drives the evolution of microcircuits in cortical networks. When potentiation and depression are in approximate balance, synaptic dynamics depend on weighted divergent, convergent, and chain motifs. For additive, Hebbian STDP these motif interactions create instabilities in synaptic dynamics that either promote or suppress the initial network structure. Our work provides a consistent theoretical framework for studying how spiking activity in recurrent networks interacts with synaptic plasticity to determine network structure.
Year
DOI
Venue
2015
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004458
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
Field
DocType
Volume
Synaptic scaling,Neuroscience,Nonsynaptic plasticity,Network dynamics,Biology,Hebbian theory,Artificial intelligence,Synaptic plasticity,Metaplasticity,Spiking neural network,Genetics,Homeostatic plasticity
Journal
11
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
8
1553-7358
8
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.53
28
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Gabriel Koch Ocker1131.33
Ashok Litwin-Kumar2333.66
Brent Doiron316817.71