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Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is a leading candidate for a cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. Spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) is a physiologically plausible form of synaptic plasticity in which the order and precise timing of pre- and postsynaptic spikes determine the sign of synaptic change. In its canonical form, pre–before-post spike pairings induce timing-dependent long-term potentiation (t-LTP) whereas post–before-pre pairings induce long-term depression (t-LTD). In this seminar I will describe how the specific rules of synaptic plasticity vary depending on the spatio-temporal activity in the network and how they are altered by neuromodulators, including the reward-related signalling molecule dopamine. We will also discuss possible computational and cognitive implications of these modifications to STDP rules.