Syntax, synfire, and synaptic plasticity: Modeling the generation of structure in birdsong and neuronal networks

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Syntax, synfire, and synaptic plasticity: Modeling the generation of structure in birdsong and neuronal networks Abigail Morrison1, 2* 1 Bernstein Center Freiburg, Germany 2 University of Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, Germany Adult Bengalese finches generate a variable song that obeys a distinct and individual syntax. The syntax is gradually lost over a period of days after deafening and is recovered when hearing is restored. In the first part of this talk I will present a spiking neuronal network model of the song syntax generation and its loss, based on the assumption that the syntax is stored in reafferent connections from the auditory to the motor control area. Propagating synfire activity in the HVC (high vocal center) codes for individual syllables of the song and priming signals from the auditory network reduce the competition between syllables to allow only those transitions that are permitted by the syntax. Both imprinting of song syntax within HVC and the interaction of the reafferent signal with an efference copy of the motor command are sufficient to explain the gradual loss of syntax in the absence of auditory feedback. In the second part of this talk I will consider how the synfire chains assumed in the first part could develop. It has long been though that spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) provides an answer to the question of how the brain can develop functional structure in response to repeated stimuli. However, convincing demonstrations of this capacity in large, initially random networks have not been forthcoming; such demonstrations as there are typically rely on constraining the problem artificially. I will present a theoretical analysis based on a mean field approach of the development of feed-forward structure in random networks. An unstable fixed point in the recruitment dynamics prevents the stable propagation of structure in recurrent networks with weight-dependent STDP. The key theoretical predictions can be confirmed in large-scale simulations. The theory provides insight into the reasons why such development does not take place in unconstrained systems and enables the identification of candidate biologically motivated adaptations to the balanced random network model that might resolve the issue. Keywords: Plasticity and Learning Conference: BC11 : Computational Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Bernstein Conference & Neurex Annual Meeting 2011, Freiburg, Germany, 4 Oct - 6 Oct, 2011. Presentation Type: Keynote Topic: other Citation: Morrison A (2011). Syntax, synfire, and synaptic plasticity: Modeling the generation of structure in birdsong and neuronal networks. Front. Comput. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: BC11 : Computational Neuroscience & Neurotechnology Bernstein Conference & Neurex Annual Meeting 2011. doi: 10.3389/conf.fncom.2011.53.00021 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 26 Sep 2011; Published Online: 04 Oct 2011. * Correspondence: Prof. Abigail Morrison, Bernstein Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, morrison@fz-juelich.de Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Abigail Morrison Google Abigail Morrison Google Scholar Abigail Morrison PubMed Abigail Morrison Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.