Extracellular matrix and visual cortical plasticity: freeing the synapse.
The effects of monocular deprivation (MD) on the ocular dominance of visual cortical neurons are a paradigmatic example of experience-dependent plasticity. Here we review recent data showing that extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the control of experience-dependent plasticity both in the developing and adult visual cortex.
Berardi
Nicoletta
N
Istituto Neuroscienze CNR, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Pizzorusso
Tommaso
T
Maffei
Lamberto
L
D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*