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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 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.

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...

Action Potential

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...

Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...

Synaptic Signaling

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Published on: September 20, 2024

Bidirectional plasticity at developing climbing fiber-Purkinje neuron synapses.

Gen Ohtsuki¹, Tomoo Hirano

¹Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.

The European Journal of Neuroscience

|November 27, 2008

Summary

Synaptic plasticity refines climbing fiber connections in the developing cerebellum. Stronger synapses strengthen, while weaker ones weaken, through activity-dependent mechanisms, ensuring single-fiber innervation of Purkinje neurons.

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Assessment of Long-term Depression Induction in Adult Cerebellar Slices

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cellular Neuroscience

Background:

Climbing fibers are crucial excitatory inputs to the cerebellar cortex.
Immature Purkinje neurons receive multiple climbing fiber inputs, which are pruned during development to a single input.
Neuronal activity is implicated in this pruning process.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of synaptic plasticity in refining climbing fiber projections to Purkinje neurons in developing mice.
To characterize the plasticity properties of climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synapses during early postnatal development.

Main Methods:

Electrophysiological recordings from Purkinje neurons in mice aged postnatal days 5-9.
Stimulation of climbing fibers with varying synaptic strengths (strong vs. weak).
Analysis of excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) amplitudes and paired-pulse ratios (PPR) to assess synaptic plasticity.

Main Results:

Conditioning stimulation of strong climbing fiber synapses induced long-term potentiation (LTP) with decreased PPR, suggesting increased presynaptic release probability.
Conditioning stimulation of weak climbing fiber synapses induced long-term depression (LTD) with increased PPR.
LTD was specific to the stimulated climbing fiber, while LTP spread to unconditioned fibers.
Postsynaptic calcium increase was necessary for LTP but not LTD.

Conclusions:

Synaptic plasticity at immature climbing fiber-Purkinje cell synapses is input-strength dependent.
Presynaptic plasticity mechanisms contribute to the refinement of climbing fiber projections.
Activity-dependent plasticity plays a key role in eliminating surplus climbing fiber inputs, ensuring mature cerebellar circuitry.