Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 332, Issue 3, 8 November 2002, Pages 180-184
Neuroscience Letters

Learning-induced multiple synapse formation in rat cerebellar cortex

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00759-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Strengthening of synaptic connections has been proposed to underlie information storage in the brain, and experience-dependent increases in synapse number have been observed. However, the effect of these new synapses on the specific connectivity, and thus function, of a given brain area remains largely unknown. We report here that motor learning specifically induces the formation of multiple synapses – two post-synaptic contacts at a single pre-synaptic varicosity – in the cerebellum. Rats undergoing motor learning had more multiple synapses (two Purkinje cell spines contacting a given parallel fiber varicosity) per Purkinje cell than did active or inactive controls. The formation of multiple synapses provides an additional connection between a given parallel fiber and Purkinje cell, thereby enhancing particular pathways, and may constitute a fundamental mechanism of neural encoding.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Beckman Optical Visualization Facility, James Bower, Mark Nelson, Kristen Harris and David Clayton for comments, Ruth Napper for advice on synapse quantification, and Karl Haglund, Rodney Swain, Kim Armstrong and Theresa Jones for assistance. This work was supported by AG 10154, NSF BNS 88 21219 and NSERC.

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