Learning-induced structural plasticity in the cerebellum

Abstract

Activity-dependent changes in synaptic properties are considered key neural mechanisms of learning and memory. Most studies focus on changes in synaptic function such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), while changes in synaptic structure have been largely ignored. However, structural synaptic changes are also important. In fact, LTP and LTD are often associated with structural alterations of dendritic spines. Furthermore, experimental evidence indicates that behavioral learning often induces structural rewiring of synaptic circuitry through the formation of new synapses and elimination of existing ones. To discuss the role of structural plasticity in cerebellar learning, this chapter mainly focuses on parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses in the cerebellar cortex and reviews their structural changes under several different forms of motor learning.

Keywords: Cerebellum; Electron microscopy; Live imaging; Motor learning; Parallel fibers; Purkinje cells; Rewiring; Structural plasticity.