Experimental and computational aspects of signaling mechanisms of spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity

STDP (spike‐timing‐dependent synaptic plasticity) is thought to be a synaptic learning rule that embeds spike‐timing information into a specific pattern of synaptic strengths in neuronal circuits, resulting in a memory. STDP consists of bidirectional long‐term changes in synaptic strengths. This process includes long‐term potentiation and long‐term depression, which are dependent on the timing of presynaptic and postsynaptic spikings. In this review, we focus on computational aspects of signaling mechanisms that induce and maintain STDP as a key step toward the definition of a general synaptic learning rule. In addition, we discuss the temporal and spatial aspects of STDP, and the requirement of a homeostatic mechanism of STDP in vivo.