Wen, Q., Chklovskii, D. B. (May 2008) A cost-benefit analysis of neuronal morphology. J Neurophysiol, 99 (5). pp. 2320-8.
Abstract
Over hundreds of millions of years, evolution has optimized brain design to maximize its functionality while minimizing costs associated with building and maintenance. This observation suggests that one can use optimization theory to rationalize various features of brain design. Here, we attempt to explain the dimensions and branching structure of dendritic arbors by minimizing dendritic cost for given potential synaptic connectivity. Assuming only that dendritic cost increases with total dendritic length and path length from synapses to soma, we find that branching, planar, and compact dendritic arbors, such as those belonging to Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, are optimal. The theory predicts that adjacent Purkinje dendritic arbors should spatially segregate. In addition, we propose two explicit cost function expressions, falsifiable by measuring dendritic caliber near bifurcations.
| Item Type: | Paper |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions > brain organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions |
| CSHL Authors: | |
| Communities: | CSHL labs > Chklovskii lab |
| Depositing User: | Matt Covey |
| Date: | May 2008 |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Feb 2013 15:22 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Feb 2013 15:22 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27507 |
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