title: Supervised learning with complex spikes and spike-timing-dependent plasticity.
abstract: One distinctive feature of Purkinje cells is that they have two types of discharge: in addition to simple spikes they fire complex spikes in response to input from the climbing fibers. These complex spikes have an initial rapid burst of spikes and spikelets followed by a sustained depolarization; in some models of cerebellar function this climbing fiber input supervises learning in Purkinje cells. On the other hand, synaptic plasticity is often thought to rely on the timing of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic spikes. It is suggested here that the period of depolarization following a complex spike, combined with a simple spike-timing-dependent plasticity rule, gives a mechanism for the climbing fiber to supervise learning in the Purkinje cell. This proposal is illustrated using a simple simulation in which it is seen that the climbing fiber succeeds in supervising the learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, England.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houghton
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors