title: Interactions between synaptic homeostatic mechanisms: an attempt to reconcile BCM theory, synaptic scaling, and changing excitation/inhibition balance.
abstract: Homeostatic plasticity is proposed to be mediated by synaptic changes, such as synaptic scaling and shifts in the excitation/inhibition balance. These mechanisms are thought to be separate from the Bienenstock, Cooper, Munro (BCM) learning rule, where the threshold for the induction of long-term potentiation and long-term depression slides in response to changes in activity levels. Yet, both sets of mechanisms produce a homeostatic response of a relative increase (or decrease) in strength of excitatory synapses in response to overall activity-level changes. Here we review recent studies, with a focus on in vivo experiments, to re-examine the overlap and differences between these two mechanisms and we suggest how they may interact to facilitate firing-rate homeostasis, while maintaining functional properties of neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, 21 University Street, London, WC1E 6DE, UK.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hübener
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany. Electronic address: tobias.bonhoeffer@neuro.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bonhoeffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*