Models of Dynamical Synapses and Cortical Development

The physiological maturation of gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA A ) signaling participates in the fine tuning of synaptic strength, differentiation, and the enhancement of network activity (Ben-Ari, Gaiarsa, Tyzio, & Khazipov, 2007; Hyafil, 2015; Leitch, Coaker, Young, Mehta, & Sernagor, 2005; Sernagor, Young, & Eglen., 2003; Ratté, Hong, De Schutter, & Prescott, 2013). It has been demonstrated that synaptogenesis coincides with the initiation of dendritic development and that the density of synapses significantly increases at least until the end of the third week in vitro despite concomitant decline in neural density (Ito et al., 2010). In parallel, a number of studies related synchronous patterns of activity to the establishment of neuronal connections and functional maturation of synapses, leading to incremental synaptic strength (Allene et al., 2008; Garaschuk, Linn, Eilers, & Konnerth, 2000; Rolston, Wagenaar, & Potter, 2007; Rubinov and Sporns, 2011; Uhlhaas, Roux, Rodriguez, Rotarska-Jagiela, & Singer, 2010). Thus, the initiation of neural activity might guide the wiring of cortical structures while this activity disappears upon maturation of sensory systems, when e ­ xperience-dependent mechanisms refine network connectivity (Hensch, 2004; Kamioka, Maeda, Jimbo, Robinson, & Kawana, 1996; Katz & Shatz, 1996). As a result, structural changes in local connectivity may contribute to enhancing and fine tuning neural activity. Nevertheless the functional connectivity within the neural network remains elusive and poorly understood despite its potential to provide an insight into our understanding of pathologies. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial for both experimental and rigorous theoretical approaches to identify general principles about connectivity structure, which may be applied further to explain neurological disorders.