Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons.
The functional networks of cultured neurons exhibit complex network properties similar to those found in vivo. Starting from random seeding, cultures undergo significant reorganization during the initial period in vitro, yet despite providing an ideal platform for observing developmental changes in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS Computational Biology |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3355061?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811227216218947584 |
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| author | Julia H Downes Mark W Hammond Dimitris Xydas Matthew C Spencer Victor M Becerra Kevin Warwick Ben J Whalley Slawomir J Nasuto |
| author_facet | Julia H Downes Mark W Hammond Dimitris Xydas Matthew C Spencer Victor M Becerra Kevin Warwick Ben J Whalley Slawomir J Nasuto |
| author_sort | Julia H Downes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The functional networks of cultured neurons exhibit complex network properties similar to those found in vivo. Starting from random seeding, cultures undergo significant reorganization during the initial period in vitro, yet despite providing an ideal platform for observing developmental changes in neuronal connectivity, little is known about how a complex functional network evolves from isolated neurons. In the present study, evolution of functional connectivity was estimated from correlations of spontaneous activity. Network properties were quantified using complex measures from graph theory and used to compare cultures at different stages of development during the first 5 weeks in vitro. Networks obtained from young cultures (14 days in vitro) exhibited a random topology, which evolved to a small-world topology during maturation. The topology change was accompanied by an increased presence of highly connected areas (hubs) and network efficiency increased with age. The small-world topology balances integration of network areas with segregation of specialized processing units. The emergence of such network structure in cultured neurons, despite a lack of external input, points to complex intrinsic biological mechanisms. Moreover, the functional network of cultures at mature ages is efficient and highly suited to complex processing tasks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:37:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f01d4650e4942bbb7dc8dac54d31fa8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-734X 1553-7358 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:37:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Computational Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f01d4650e4942bbb7dc8dac54d31fa82022-12-22T03:38:10ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582012-01-0185e100252210.1371/journal.pcbi.1002522Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons.Julia H DownesMark W HammondDimitris XydasMatthew C SpencerVictor M BecerraKevin WarwickBen J WhalleySlawomir J NasutoThe functional networks of cultured neurons exhibit complex network properties similar to those found in vivo. Starting from random seeding, cultures undergo significant reorganization during the initial period in vitro, yet despite providing an ideal platform for observing developmental changes in neuronal connectivity, little is known about how a complex functional network evolves from isolated neurons. In the present study, evolution of functional connectivity was estimated from correlations of spontaneous activity. Network properties were quantified using complex measures from graph theory and used to compare cultures at different stages of development during the first 5 weeks in vitro. Networks obtained from young cultures (14 days in vitro) exhibited a random topology, which evolved to a small-world topology during maturation. The topology change was accompanied by an increased presence of highly connected areas (hubs) and network efficiency increased with age. The small-world topology balances integration of network areas with segregation of specialized processing units. The emergence of such network structure in cultured neurons, despite a lack of external input, points to complex intrinsic biological mechanisms. Moreover, the functional network of cultures at mature ages is efficient and highly suited to complex processing tasks.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3355061?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Julia H Downes Mark W Hammond Dimitris Xydas Matthew C Spencer Victor M Becerra Kevin Warwick Ben J Whalley Slawomir J Nasuto Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. PLoS Computational Biology |
| title | Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. |
| title_full | Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. |
| title_fullStr | Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. |
| title_short | Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. |
| title_sort | emergence of a small world functional network in cultured neurons |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3355061?pdf=render |
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