Interplay of excitatory silent synapses, inhibitory synapses and synapse pruning in critical period plasticity
(B03)
Subject Area
Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
Term
from 2011 to 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 154113120
Developmental critical periods are time windows, in which initial synaptic connections are refined by experience to optimize sensory function. We found that the two signalling scaffolds PSD-93 and PSD-95 opposingly regulate silent synapse maturation in the visual cortex and that the balanced process of maturation is required for experience-dependent neural network refinement. Here, we aim to determine the molecular events of silent synapse maturation and how it cooperates with synapse pruning in the refinement of excitatory synapses. Additionally, we aim to determine the mechanistic interaction of local inhibition and silent synapses in juvenile ocular dominance plasticity.
DFG Programme
Collaborative Research Centres
