One rule to grow them all: a general theory of neuronal branching and its practical application.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the principles governing axonal and dendritic branching is essential for unravelling the functionality of single neurons and the way in which they connect. Nevertheless, no formalism has yet been described which can capture the general features of neuronal branching. Here we propose such a formalism, which is derived from the expression of dendritic arborizations as locally optimized graphs. Inspired by Ramón y Cajal's laws of conservation of cytoplasm and conduction time in neural circuitry, we show that this graphical representation can be used to optimize these variables. This approach allows us to generate synthetic branching geometries which replicate morphological features of any tested neuron. The essential structure of a neuronal tree is thereby captured by the densit

SUBMITTER: Cuntz H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916857 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature