The synaptic organization in the Caenorhabditis elegans neural network suggests significant local compartmentalized computations.

ABSTRACT: Neurons are characterized by elaborate tree-like dendritic structures that support local computations by integrating multiple inputs from upstream presynaptic neurons. It is less clear whether simple neurons, consisting of a few or even a single neurite, may perform local computations as well. To address this question, we focused on the compact neural network of Caenorhabditis elegans animals for which the full wiring diagram is available, including the coordinates of individual synapses. We find that the positions of the chemical synapses along the neurites are not randomly distributed nor can they be explained by anatomical constraints. Instead, synapses tend to form clusters, an organization that supports local compartmentalized computations. In mutually synapsing neurons, connec

SUBMITTER: Ruach R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9934027 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature