Computational Modelling of Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus Granule Cell
Hananeia, Nicholas

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Hananeia, N. (2015). Computational Modelling of Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus Granule Cell (Thesis, Master of Science). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/5482
Permanent link to OUR Archive version:
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/5482
Abstract:
After more than 30 years of study, the dynamics of synaptic plasticity in neurons still remain somewhat a mystery. By conducting a series of simulations on a simulated version of the rat dentate gyrus granule cell usingthe Izhikevich spiking neuron model, we compare and contrast several potential synaptic plasticity rules' applicability to the same experiment. Based on a 2001 experiment (Abraham et al., 2001), our simulations find that spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP), a more recent (Markram et al., 1997) theory of synaptic plasticity, is insufficient to replicate the heterosynaptic LTD shown in the experiment without including aspects of the significantly older Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro (BCM)(Bienenstock et al., 1982) theory. A combination of the history-independent STDP model and the historydependent BCM model seems most likely to be an accurate candidate for reproducing the greatest variety of cell dynamics. We also findthat in simpler nearest-neighbour STDP rules, the choice of pairing scheme is critical in achieving the greatest concordance with experiment.
Date:
2015
Advisor:
Benuskova, Lubica
Degree Name:
Master of Science
Degree Discipline:
Computer Science
Publisher:
University of Otago
Keywords:
computational neuroscience; STDP; BCM; spike timing dependent plasticity; metaplasticity; dentate gyrus granule cell; granule cell; neuroscience; heterosynaptic; LTP; LTD
Research Type:
Thesis
Languages:
English
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- Computer Science [89]
- Thesis - Masters [4213]