Hotspots of dendritic spine turnover facilitate clustered spine addition and learning and memory

Adam C. Frank, Shan Huang, Miou Zhou, Amos Gdalyahu, George Kastellakis, Tawnie K. Silva, Elaine Lu, Ximiao Wen, Panayiota Poirazi (), Joshua T. Trachtenberg and Alcino J. Silva ()
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Adam C. Frank: University of California
Shan Huang: University of California
Miou Zhou: University of California
Amos Gdalyahu: University of California
George Kastellakis: Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), GR
Tawnie K. Silva: University of California
Elaine Lu: University of California
Ximiao Wen: University of California
Panayiota Poirazi: Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), GR
Joshua T. Trachtenberg: University of California
Alcino J. Silva: University of California

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Modeling studies suggest that clustered structural plasticity of dendritic spines is an efficient mechanism of information storage in cortical circuits. However, why new clustered spines occur in specific locations and how their formation relates to learning and memory (L&M) remain unclear. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy, we track spine dynamics in retrosplenial cortex before, during, and after two forms of episodic-like learning and find that spine turnover before learning predicts future L&M performance, as well as the localization and rates of spine clustering. Consistent with the idea that these measures are causally related, a genetic manipulation that enhances spine turnover also enhances both L&M and spine clustering. Biophysically inspired modeling suggests turnover increases clustering, network sparsity, and memory capacity. These results support a hotspot model where spine turnover is the driver for localization of clustered spine formation, which serves to modulate network function, thus influencing storage capacity and L&M.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02751-2

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