Overview

• Researchers at UC San Diego have demonstrated that single neurons employ different synaptic plasticity rules in their apical and basal dendrites during learning.
• Using in vivo two-photon imaging in mice, the study tracked synaptic input and neuronal output during a motor-learning task, providing unprecedented subcellular resolution.
• Apical dendrites exhibit plasticity governed by local coactivity among neighboring synapses, while basal dendrites adapt based on the neuron’s overall output and action potential firing.
• The findings challenge the long-held belief that neurons follow a single learning strategy, instead revealing parallel computations within individual neurons.
• This breakthrough has implications for designing biologically inspired AI systems and developing therapies for conditions like Alzheimer’s, PTSD, and autism.