Cell assemblies are primarily formed through a process driven by synaptic plasticity, where specific groups of neurons strengthen their connections based on correlated activity.
The Mechanism of Assembly Formation
The formation of cell assemblies is a fundamental concept in neuroscience, explaining how distinct neural networks are established to represent information. According to research, the core mechanism involves the strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons that fire together.
Specifically:
- Correlated Neural Activity: When groups of neurons firing at high rate and in a correlated manner (ensembles) should form strong synaptic connections among each other, forming an assembly. This means that neurons that are active simultaneously and frequently develop stronger connections.
- Synaptic Plasticity: This process is facilitated by synaptic plasticity, which refers to the ability of synapses—the junctions between neurons—to strengthen or weaken over time in response to increases or decreases in their activity. This dynamic change in synaptic strength is the underlying biological mechanism that allows these "ensembles" to solidify into stable "assemblies."
In essence, the brain self-organizes these functional groups of neurons by enhancing the communication pathways between frequently co-active cells, thereby creating a robust neural ensemble capable of representing particular thoughts, memories, or actions.
