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UCLA researchers discover rhythmic secrets of the brain


October 9, 2011


UCLA neuro-physicists have discovered that changes in synaptic strength have an optimal 'rhythm,' or frequency

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"Many people have learning and memory disorders, and beyond that group, most of us are not Einstein or Mozart," said Mayank R. Mehta, one of the study's co-investigators. "Our work suggests that some problems with learning and memory are caused by synapses not being tuned to the right frequency."

The tendency for connections between neurons to grow stronger in response to repeated stimuli is known as synaptic plasticity. The series of signals one neuron gets from the others to which it's connected, dubbed "spike trains," arrive with variable frequencies and timing, and it's these trains that induce formation of stronger synapses- the very basis for "practice makes perfect."

In previous studies, it was shown that very high frequency neuronal stimulation (about 100 spikes per second) led to stronger connecting synapses, while stimulation at a much lower frequency (one spike per second) actually reduced synaptic strength. But real-life neurons, performing routine behavioral tasks, only fire 10 or so consecutive spikes, not hundreds, and they do this at a far lower frequency - around 50 spikes per second.

Achieving experimental spike rates that more closely approximate real life has proved rather elusive, however. Mehta explains one of the variables they encountered: "Spike frequency refers to how fast the spikes come. Ten spikes could be delivered at a frequency of 100 spikes a second or at a frequency of one spike per second."

But Mehta and his co-investigator, Arvind Kumar, didn't let that hurdle stop them. Instead, they worked out a complex mathematical model and validated it with actual data from their experiments. Now able to generate spike patterns closer to those that occur naturally, the team discovered that, contrary to their predictions, neuron stimulation at the highest frequencies wasn't the ideal way to bolster synaptic strength.


The realization that synapses have optimal frequencies for learning prompted Mehta and Kumar to determine whether synapse location on a neuron had any specific role. They discovered that the more distant the synapse was from the neuron's bulbous main body, the higher the frequency it required for optimal strengthening. "Incredibly, when it comes to learning, the neuron behaves like a giant antenna, with different branches of dendrites tuned to different frequencies for maximal learning," Mehta said.

The team also revealed that aside from having optimal frequencies at which maximal learning occurs, synapses also strengthen best when those frequencies are exactly-timed in perfect rhythms. Take away the beat, they found, and even with the ideal frequency, synaptic strengthening is appreciably compromised.

Mehta-Brain (Image courtesy: UCLA Newsroom)

The image shows a neuron with a tree trunk-like dendrite. Each triangular shape touching the dendrite represents a synapse, where inputs from other neurons, called spikes, arrive (the squiggly shapes). Synapses that are further away on the dendritic tree from the cell body require a higher spike frequency (spikes that come closer together in time) and spikes that arrive with perfect timing to generate maximal learning (Image: UCLA Newsroom)

As if these remarkable revelations weren't enough, they also discovered that a synapse's optimal frequency changes once it learns. The researchers feel that understanding of this fundamental could yield insight into treatments for conditions related to memory dysfunction (or the need to forget), such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

With additional study, these findings could possibly lead to the development of new drugs capable of "re-calibrating" faulty brain rhythms in people with memory or learning disorders. "We already know there are drugs and electrical stimuli that can alter brain rhythms," Mehta said.


The research paper entitled Frequency-dependent changes in NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity is available online at Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience.

Source: UCLA

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"a finding that could one day lead to new strategies for treating learning disabilities" ...or be abused in the advertising industry. /cynical

Andrew Rockefeller
9th October, 2011 @ 11:45 pm PDT

This sounds like it might offer some insight into the causes of seizures as well.

Andrew: it seems to me that the worst things advertisers do are done out of ignorance or deep seeded predudice. Also, it is easy enough to self limit your exposure to advertising. Besides, any advertiser that thinks it would be smart to try misusing this information is setting themselves up for a nasty intenional harm lawsuit.

Charles Bosse
10th October, 2011 @ 08:34 am PDT

Shakespearian verse is known by actors to be easy to learn. The iambic pentameter he uses may be connected to this frequency issue?

10th October, 2011 @ 09:49 am PDT

That is really cool! This may be related to the relative ease with which one can memorize just about any amount of words as long as they're set to a good rhythm.

Joel Detrow
10th October, 2011 @ 11:46 pm PDT

Charles; that would be "deep-seated", actually. No plants involved.


I have had moderate tinnitus most of my life, and have noticed that the "squeal" has a ticking background. When the squeal happens to be quiet for a time (rare), the ticking continues. I timed it at about 26.5 - 27 seconds per 100 ticks, so just over a quarter second each. It seems absolutely regular; checking at different times gives the same number.

Most prominent on the left side, but present on both, as far as I can tell.

Brian Hall
11th October, 2011 @ 12:24 pm PDT
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