RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hebbian activity-dependent plasticity in white matter
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.01.11.473633
DO 10.1101/2022.01.11.473633
A1 Alberto Lazari
A1 Piergiorgio Salvan
A1 Michiel Cottaar
A1 Daniel Papp
A1 Matthew Rushworth
A1 Heidi Johansen-Berg
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/01/12/2022.01.11.473633.abstract
AB Synaptic plasticity is required for learning and follows Hebb’s Rule, the com-putational principle underpinning associative learning. In recent years, a complementary type of brain plasticity has been identified in myelinated axons, which make up the majority of brain’s white matter. Like synaptic plasticity, myelin plasticity is required for learning, but it is unclear whether it is Hebbian or whether it follows different rules. Here, we provide evidence that white matter plasticity operates following Hebb’s Rule in humans. Across two experiments, we find that co-stimulating cortical areas to induce Hebbian plasticity leads to relative increases in cortical excitability and associated increases in a myelin marker within the stimulated fiber bundle. We conclude that Hebbian plasticity extends beyond synaptic changes, and can be observed in human white matter fibers.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.