Activity dependent segregation

Date and country of first publication

2008
united kingdom

Definition

{NoteAI} Activity-dependent segregation is a process in which neurons in the brain organize themselves into distinct functional circuits based on their activity levels. This process is facilitated by the strengthening and weakening of synaptic connections between neurons in response to their activity.

This segregation allows for the formation of specialized neural circuits that process specific types of information, such as vision, language, or motor control. Through this process, the brain is able to efficiently process and interpret the vast amount of sensory inputs it receives, leading to more effective and precise neural processing.

Activity-dependent segregation is particularly important during critical periods of brain development, when neural connections are forming and refining in response to environmental stimuli and experiences. Disruptions in this process can lead to various neurological and cognitive disorders, highlighting the importance of understanding and supporting healthy neural development.

Further reading

Elliott T. (2008) "Temporal dynamics of rate based synaptic plasticity rules in a stochastic model of spike timing dependent plasticity", Neural Computation, 20(9), pp. 2253-2307. . DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1162/neco.2008.06-07-555 10.1162/neco.2008.06-07-555]