Papers on Neural Plasticity

[Gabriele Scheler]

Dear colleagues,

Here is an announcement for two recent papers (and an earlier one
from 2003) on non-LTP-like brain plasticity.

                           available from arxiv.org

Summary:
------------------------------
The evidence for learning and memory expressed by the distribution of
receptors for other neurochemicals, prominently dopamine, acetylcholine
etc. is reviewed. Theoretical models are outlined (a) for synaptic gating
by presynaptic receptor activity and (b) for intrinsic, whole-neuron
adaptivity in membrane excitation ('transfer') functions.

The upshot is that learning and memory may very likely be expressed by the
adjustment of G-protein coupled receptors, even though the amount of
heterogeneity (storage capacity) and the amount of long-term
persistence of adaptivity are not well investigated yet.

Known to be the target of many psychoactive substances, and prominent
in addiction, fear and social learning, we conjecture that neuromodulatory
plasticity has a quite general function in 'emotional learning' in many
parts of the brain.

---------------------------------

Regulation of Neuromodulator Efficacy - Implications for Whole-Neuron
and Synaptic Plasticity.
Progress in Neurobiology 72(6), April 2004.
http://www.arxiv.org/pdf/q-bio.NC/0403011

Memorization in a neural network with adjustable transfer function and
conditional gating.
online since March 2004.
http://www.arxiv.org/pdf/q-bio.MN/0401039

Presynaptic modulation as fast synaptic switching: state-dependent
modulation of task performance.
Proceedings of IJCNN'03, Portland, Oregon, June 2003.
http://www.arxiv.org/pdf/cs.NE/0401020

--------------------------------

Dr. G. Scheler
Research Scientist
ISLE/CSLI
25 Ventura Hall 
Stanford, Ca. 94305
http://www.stanford.edu/~scheler