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Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brunel, N
Published in: Nat Neurosci
May 2016

Cortical networks are thought to be shaped by experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Theoretical studies have shown that synaptic plasticity allows a network to store a memory of patterns of activity such that they become attractors of the dynamics of the network. Here we study the properties of the excitatory synaptic connectivity in a network that maximizes the number of stored patterns of activity in a robust fashion. We show that the resulting synaptic connectivity matrix has the following properties: it is sparse, with a large fraction of zero synaptic weights ('potential' synapses); bidirectionally coupled pairs of neurons are over-represented in comparison to a random network; and bidirectionally connected pairs have stronger synapses on average than unidirectionally connected pairs. All these features reproduce quantitatively available data on connectivity in cortex. This suggests synaptic connectivity in cortex is optimized to store a large number of attractor states in a robust fashion.

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Published In

Nat Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1546-1726

Publication Date

May 2016

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

749 / 755

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Networks, Computer
  • Models, Neurological
  • Memory
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Brunel, N. (2016). Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information? Nat Neurosci, 19(5), 749–755. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4286
Brunel, Nicolas. “Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information?Nat Neurosci 19, no. 5 (May 2016): 749–55. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4286.
Brunel N. Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information? Nat Neurosci. 2016 May;19(5):749–55.
Brunel, Nicolas. “Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information?Nat Neurosci, vol. 19, no. 5, May 2016, pp. 749–55. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/nn.4286.
Brunel N. Is cortical connectivity optimized for storing information? Nat Neurosci. 2016 May;19(5):749–755.

Published In

Nat Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1546-1726

Publication Date

May 2016

Volume

19

Issue

5

Start / End Page

749 / 755

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neural Networks, Computer
  • Models, Neurological
  • Memory
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology