dendrittiset

Dendrittiset are a theoretical class of dendritic computational units described as semi-autonomous subdomains within a neuron’s dendritic arbor that can perform local processing and store information through structural and synaptic plasticity. The concept is used in theoretical neuroscience to account for observations of strong branch-specific plasticity and electrical compartmentalization in dendrites.

The term combines dendrite with a plural suffix, reflecting the idea that multiple such units can exist within a single neuron. In discussions of neural computation, dendrittiset are proposed as modular sites of integration that operate partly independently from the soma and from one another.

Structure and function: Dendrittiset are envisioned as clusters of spines and receptors within a dendritic branch or tuft that can integrate inputs, generate local calcium signals, and undergo Hebbian-type plasticity. They interact with the soma through cable properties and active conductances, and their activity can be modulated by neuromodulators as well as by dendritic spikes, which may propagate partially toward the soma.

Role in learning and memory: In this framework, learning can occur at multiple dendritic sites, enabling distributed memory traces and potential improvements in pattern separation and robustness to interference compared with strictly soma-centric models.

Evidence and debate: Direct confirmation of dendrittiset in biological neurons remains debated. Some experiments show branch-specific plasticity and localized calcium transients, while others argue that existing concepts of dendritic compartments and plasticity already capture these phenomena without introducing new units.

See also: Dendritic computation, synaptic plasticity, NMDA receptor, dendritic spiking.