Plasticity rules – The daily blog of behavioral and cognitive economics

Synapses Use Multiple Learning Rules to Encode New Information

New research reveals that individual neurons follow multiple learning rules simultaneously, challenging the long-held belief that synaptic plasticity operates uniformly throughout the brain. Using advanced two-photon imaging, scientists tracked changes in synapses during learning in mice, uncovering that different regions within a single neuron adapt using distinct plasticity mechanisms. This breakthrough sheds light on how the brain solves the “credit assignment problem,” where localized synaptic changes result in broad behavioral learning. The findings may guide new treatments for brain disorders and inspire more sophisticated artificial intelligence systems. ….[READ]