Abstract.
Presented in this paper is a neural network model that can be used to investigate the possible self-organizing mechanisms occurring during the early ontogeny of spinal neural circuits in the vertebrate motor system. The neural circuit is composed of multiple types of neurons which correspond to motorneurons, Renshaw cells and a hypothetical class of interneurons. While the connectivity of this circuit is genetically predetermined, the efficacies of these connections – the synaptic s trengths – evolve in accordance with activity-dependent mechanisms which are initiated by the intrinsic, autonomous activity present in the developing spinal cord. Using Oja's rule, a modified Hebbian learning scheme for adjusting the values of the connections, the network stably self-organizes developing, in the process, reciprocally activated motorneuron pools analogous to those which exist in vivo.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 30 December 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 20 June 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Heijst, J., Vos, J. Self-organizing effects of spontaneous neural activity on the development of spinal locomotor circuits in vertebrates. Biol Cybern 77, 185–195 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004220050379
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004220050379