TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of neuronal activity and transmitter release on synapse formation
AU - Andreae, Laura C
AU - Burrone, Juan
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - The long history of probing the role of neuronal activity in the development of nervous system circuitry has recently taken an interesting turn. Although undoubtedly activity plays a critical part in the maintenance and refinement of synaptic connections, often via competitive mechanisms, evidence is building that it also drives the process of synapse formation itself. Perhaps predictably, this turns out not to be a uniform process. It seems that different circuits, indeed specific synaptic connections, are differentially sensitive to the effects of activity. We examine possible ways in which neurotransmitter may drive synapse formation, and speculate on how the environment of the developing brain may allow a different spatiotemporal range for neuronal activity to operate in the generation of connectivity.
AB - The long history of probing the role of neuronal activity in the development of nervous system circuitry has recently taken an interesting turn. Although undoubtedly activity plays a critical part in the maintenance and refinement of synaptic connections, often via competitive mechanisms, evidence is building that it also drives the process of synapse formation itself. Perhaps predictably, this turns out not to be a uniform process. It seems that different circuits, indeed specific synaptic connections, are differentially sensitive to the effects of activity. We examine possible ways in which neurotransmitter may drive synapse formation, and speculate on how the environment of the developing brain may allow a different spatiotemporal range for neuronal activity to operate in the generation of connectivity.
U2 - 10.1016/j.conb.2014.02.008
DO - 10.1016/j.conb.2014.02.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 24632375
SN - 0959-4388
VL - 27
SP - 47
EP - 52
JO - CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
JF - CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
ER -