Biochemical Computation for Spine Structural Plasticity

The structural plasticity of dendritic spines is considered to be essential for various forms of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. The process is mediated by a complex signaling network consisting of numerous species of molecules. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal dynamics of the biochemical signaling are regulated in a complicated manner because of geometrical restrictions from the unique morphology of the dendritic branches and spines. Recent advances in optical techniques have enabled the exploration of the spatiotemporal aspects of the signal regulations in spines and dendrites and have provided many insights into the principle of the biochemical computation that underlies spine structural plasticity. [Display omitted] Nishiyama and Yasuda review the recent advances in the understanding of the structural and functional plasticity of dendritic spines, with a particular focus on the mechanisms and roles of the spatiotemporal dynamics of biochemical signaling.