Connectionists: paper: self influencing synaptic plasticity

[Bernd Porr]

We are pleased to announce the paper (apologies if you've received this 
announcement twice):

Self-influencing synaptic plasticity: Recurrent changes of synaptic 
weights can lead to specific functional properties

Minija Tamosiunaite, Bernd Porr and Florentin Wörgötter

Abstract:
Recent experimental results suggest that dendritic and back-propagating 
spikes can influence synaptic plasticity in different ways (Holthoff, 
2004; Holthoff et al., 2005). In this study we investigate how these 
signals could interact at dendrites in space and time leading to 
*changing plasticity properties at local synapse clusters*. Similar to a 
previous study (Saudargiene et al., 2004) we employ a *differential 
Hebbian learning rule to emulate spike-timing dependent plasticity* and 
investigate how the interaction of dendritic and back-propagating 
spikes, as the post-synaptic signals, could influence plasticity. 
Specifically, we will show that local synaptic plasticity driven by 
spatially confined dendritic spikes can lead to the *emergence of 
synaptic clusters* with different properties. If one of these clusters 
can drive the neuron into spiking, plasticity may change and the now 
arising global influence of a back-propagating spike can lead to a 
further segregation of the clusters and possibly the dying-off of some 
of them leading to more functional specificity. These results suggest 
that through plasticity being a spatial and temporal local process, the 
computational properties of dendrites or complete neurons can be 
substantially augmented.

http://www.berndporr.me.uk/self_influ/
-- 
Mobile: +44 (0)7840 340069
Work:   +44 (0)141 330 5237
         University of Glasgow
         Department of Electronics & Electrical Engineering
         Room 519, Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue,
         Glasgow, G12 8LT