title: Extracellular matrix and visual cortical plasticity: freeing the synapse.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Neuroscienze CNR, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pizzorusso
authors.forename: Lamberto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maffei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*