UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Retraction statement

Dr Lynn Bindman and Dr M. Barry regret the need to withdraw a communication published in the Proceedings of the Journal of Physiology, and, together with Dr R. M. Vickery, a Society for Neuroscience Abstract. The publications are:

1. Postsynaptic control of the direction of changes in synaptic strength induced by non-associative intracellular conditioning, in isolated slices of hippocampus, by Barry, M.F., Christofi, G. & Bindman, L.J. (1994) in Proceedings of the Journal of Physiology, 477P 52P.

2. The role of Ca²⁺ in the induction of non-associative long-term depression of synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampal slice, by Barry, M.F., Christofi, G., Vickery, R.M. & Bindman, L.J. (1994) in Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 20, 373.12. This Abstract was withdrawn at the meeting but remains in print.

In October 1994, we (Dr Bindman, Dr Vickery and Mr Barry) reported to the authorities in UCL our concern that analyses of experimental data carried out in my laboratory had been falsified. An independent external panel of distinguished Professors of Physiology was set up by UCL to investigate the matter. The panel confirmed that there had been falsification of research data including data published in these abstracts. The panel were convinced that, beyond reasonable doubt, Dr Christofi was responsible for the falsification. The panel were convinced, beyond reasonable doubt, that we (Dr. Vickery, Mr. Barry and Dr. Bindman) are innocent of falsifying data.

We should also like to draw attention to our more recent publications that report our attempts to repeat and extend work in which Dr Christofi was involved.

BARRY, M.F. VICKERY, R.M. BOLSOVER, S.R. & BINDMAN, L.J. (1996) Intracellular studies of heterosynaptic long-term depression (LTD) in CA1 of hippocampal slices. Hippocampus, 6, 3-8.

BARRY, M.F. VICKERY, R.M. & BINDMAN, L.J. (1996) A non-associative depotentiation of synaptic transmission can be induced postsynaptically in isolated slices of rat hippocampus. J. Physiol.(Lond.) 495P, 52P

VICKERY, R.M. & BINDMAN, L.J. (1997) Long-lasting decreases of AMPA responses following postsynaptic activity in single hippocampal neurons. Synapse 25, 103-106.

BARRY, M.F. (1997) An investigation into the induction of non-associative long-term synaptic depression in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus in vitro.
PhD thesis, University of London.

[UCL Press Statement]