Sperry and Hebb: oil and vinegar?
The interface between so-called activity-dependent and activity-independent mechanisms of circuit development is discussed here in light of recent findings that question the role of activity in brain development. This debate is presented simplistically here in terms of Sperry's chemoaffinity hypothesis versus Hebb's rules of correlation-based synaptic change, which are often presented as being mutually exclusive - much like oil and vinegar.
Cline
Hollis
H
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*