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Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

In vivo Imaging of Optic Nerve Fiber Integrity by Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Mice

In vivo Imaging of Optic Nerve Fiber Integrity by Contrast-Enhanced MRI in Mice

Published on: July 22, 2014

Activity-dependent decrease in NMDA receptor responses during development of the visual cortex.

G Carmignoto¹, S Vicini

¹FIDIA Georgetown Institute for the Neurosciences, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|November 6, 1992

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The developing visual cortex shows longer NMDA receptor activity in young rats, crucial for synaptic plasticity. This duration shortens with age, a process influenced by environmental factors and neural activity.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

The developing visual system serves as a key model for studying environmental influences on neuronal connections.
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are vital for experience-dependent synaptic modifications in the visual cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the age-dependent changes in NMDA receptor function and their relationship with visual cortical plasticity.
To explore the role of environmental factors and neural activity in modulating these changes.

Main Methods:

Electrophysiological recordings of NMDA-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in layer IV visual cortex neurons of young and adult rats.
Analysis of NMDA receptor channel gating properties using outside-out patches.
Experimental manipulation including dark rearing and tetrodotoxin treatment.

Main Results:

NMDA-mediated EPSCs were significantly longer in young rats compared to adults, correlating with higher synaptic plasticity.
Dark rearing prolonged EPSC duration and maintained plasticity, while tetrodotoxin inhibited this decrease.
Young rat neurons showed prolonged NMDA channel openings upon L-glutamate application, unlike adult neurons.

Conclusions:

Age-dependent changes in NMDA receptor gating properties contribute to the decline in visual cortical plasticity.
Environmental input and neural activity play critical roles in regulating the maturation of synaptic plasticity.