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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation01:35

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 Potentiation01:25

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 Depression01:05

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 Depression01:03

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...
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)01:32

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)

Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
07:13

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

Long-term potentiation in isolated dendritic spines.

Amadou T Corera1, Guy Doucet, Edward A Fon

  • 1Centre for Neuronal Survival and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Plos One
|June 24, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Isolated brain synaptosomes exhibit long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity, demonstrating that the essential machinery for synaptic plasticity functions locally within dendritic spines.

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Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
09:39

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation

Published on: June 26, 2013

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice
11:13

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice

Published on: November 29, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
07:13

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
09:39

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation

Published on: June 26, 2013

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice
11:13

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice

Published on: November 29, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) activation influences synaptic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR) levels in the brain.
  • Synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP), is thought to involve regulated AMPAR trafficking within dendritic spines.
  • Recent findings suggest inter-compartmental molecular movement is critical for synaptic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if inter-compartmental movement is essential for synaptic plasticity.
  • To develop a novel system for examining AMPAR trafficking in isolated brain synaptosomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized isolated and apposed pre- and postsynaptic elements (synaptosomes) to study AMPAR trafficking.
  • Mimicked synaptic NMDAR activation using KCl-evoked glutamate release and glycine.
  • Measured changes in surface AMPAR levels via [(3)H]-AMPA binding and analyzed postsynaptic density (PSD) fractions for AMPAR subunits.

Main Results:

  • Synaptosomes demonstrated LTP-like plasticity, with increased surface AMPAR levels upon NMDAR activation.
  • This plasticity was blocked by the NMDAR antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5).
  • Increased GluR1 and GluR2 AMPAR subunits in the PSD fraction indicated trafficking from internal compartments; plasticity was reversible and required proteasomal degradation for depotentiation.

Conclusions:

  • The minimal molecular machinery for LTP is present and functional within isolated dendritic spines.
  • Synaptic plasticity can occur locally, independent of broader dendritic structures.