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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

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

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

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

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

Role of Hippocampus in Memory

The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

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.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...

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 18, 2026

Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording

Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording

Published on: August 11, 2019

Ultrastructural plasticity associated with hippocampal-dependent learning: a meta-analysis.

Diano F Marrone¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ont., Canada. diano@nsma.arizona.edu

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

|December 19, 2006

Summary

Learning causes small, specific structural changes in the hippocampus, including increased dendritic complexity and spine density. These synaptic alterations correlate with transient hippocampal plasticity, unlike neocortical plasticity.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording

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Published on: August 11, 2019

Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity

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Published on: November 11, 2017

Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents

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Published on: September 4, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Neuroplasticity

Background:

Understanding synaptic structure changes is crucial for comprehending learning and memory.
The hippocampus plays a key role in learning and memory formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize existing research on how synaptic structure changes after hippocampal-dependent learning.
To establish a profile of morphological alterations in the hippocampus following learning.

Main Methods:

A meta-analysis was conducted on studies investigating morphological changes in the hippocampus after learning.
132 effect sizes were calculated and analyzed to identify consistent patterns.

Main Results:

Consistent increases in dendritic complexity, spine density, and perforated postsynaptic densities were observed across the hippocampus.
Synapse density and perforated synapse density showed varied responses based on training duration and hippocampal cell layers.
Only a limited number of morphological parameters demonstrated significant changes, indicating specificity.

Conclusions:

Hippocampal learning involves specific, albeit small, structural changes at the synapse.
These structural changes are proposed to underlie transient hippocampal plasticity.
Distinct morphological cascades may differentiate hippocampal and neocortical synaptic plasticity.