Adaptation of spontaneous activity in the developing visual cortex

Spontaneous activity drives the establishment of appropriate connectivity in different circuits during brain development. In mouse primary visual cortex, two distinct patterns spontaneous occur before vision onset: local low-synchronicity events originating retina and global high-synchronicity cortex. We sought to determine contribution these jointly organize network through activity-dependent plasticity rules. postulated that shape cortical input selectivity topography, while homeostatically regulate connection strength. However, generate robust selectivity, we found should adapt their amplitude history preceding activation. confirmed this prediction by analyzing vivo activity. The predicted adaptation leads sparsification on a slower timescale development, demonstrating remarkable capacity developing sensory cortex acquire sensitivity inputs after eye-opening.