Spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity can form "zero lag links" for cortical oscillations

We study the impact of spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP) on coherent gamma activity between distant cortical regions with reciprocal projections. Our simulation network consists of two areas and includes a STDP model re4ecting e5cacy suppression between pre/ postsynaptic spike pairs as found in recent experiments during stimulation with spike trains (Nature 416 (2002) 433). We 8nd that STDP in conjunction with oscillatory common input strengthens synapses with delays around multiples of the oscillation period. As a result, intrinsic excitatory interactions between the areas express in gamma waves with zero lag synchrony (instead of unphysiological anti-phase synchrony without STDP). We discuss the impact of e5cacy suppression on learning convergence and robustness. c © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.