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Subsections
Spike timing influences synaptic plasticity,
and changes of synaptic efficacies induce
variations in spike timing.
In this chapter we have seen several examples
of an interaction between plasticity and neuronal
coding. Apart from some generic
considerations regarding rapid
and reliable signal transmission or
sequence learning, we have also
considered two specialized neuronal
systems where the relevance
of spike timing has clearly been shown.
The example of subtraction of
expectations in Mormoryd electric fish
is noteworthy because it is one of the few
cases where a direct link between
measured synaptic properties
and a clear computational paradigm has been
established. The barn owl auditory
system is remarkable because
of the high temporal precision
that the barn owl exhibits in
in behavioral experiments of sound source localization.
To achieve this precision a tuning mechanism
such as a spike-time dependent learning rule
is necessary.
It is tempting to speculate
that future experiments
will establish similar links between
spike timing and synaptic plasticity
in other neuronal systems.
For reviews of the coding principles
and neural processing architecture
in electric fish, see
Heiligenberg (1991).
The essential steps of sound source localization
in the auditory
system of the barn owl are reviewed in
Konishi (1993,1986).
The paper of Carr (1993)
provides a highly recommandable review
of temporal processing in the brain
with a special emphasis on the sensory systems of
electric fish, bats, and owls.
Next: Bibliography
Up: 12. Plasticity and Coding
Previous: 12.5 Transmission of Temporal
Gerstner and Kistler
Spiking Neuron Models. Single Neurons, Populations, Plasticity
Cambridge University Press, 2002
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