Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Role of Amygdala in Memory01:16

Role of Amygdala in Memory

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure responsible for processing and storing memories, particularly those linked to emotions like fear and stress. It plays an essential role in the brain's response to emotionally significant events and often enhances memory formation by triggering stress hormone release. The amygdala is vital for encoding and retrieving memories associated with fear or stress, a process that is adaptive by helping organisms avoid dangerous situations.
One of the...
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...
Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents01:25

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Indirect-acting adrenergic agonists potentiate the effects of endogenous catecholamines through different mechanisms without directly binding to adrenoceptors.
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral bioavailability, and...
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Approaching Visual Perception with Spatiotemporally Patterned Optogenetic Stimulation.

Annual review of vision science·2026
Same author

The Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Encodes the Motivation to Pursue Ethanol.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Long-term editing of brain circuits using an engineered electrical synapse.

Nature·2026
Same author

Sequence termination cues drive automated habit-like strategy via dopamine-mediated processes.

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Control of innate olfactory valence by segregated cortical amygdala circuits.

eLife·2026
Same author

Neural Mechanisms of Social Homeostasis: Dynamic Range Plasticity.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Spinal cord Tau pathology induces tactile deficits and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease via dysregulation of CCK neurons.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Hippocampal theta sweeps indicate goal direction during navigation.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Just how goal-directed are hippocampal theta sweeps, anyway?

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Goal-directed hippocampal theta sweeps during memory-guided navigation.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Connectomic evidence that ordered activity drives neuromuscular network formation.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Noninvasive decoding of typed sentences from human brain activity.

Nature neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity
11:56

Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity

Published on: November 11, 2017

Methylphenidate facilitates learning-induced amygdala plasticity.

Kay M Tye1, Lynne D Tye, Jackson J Cone

  • 1Ernest Gallo Clinic & Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, Emeryville, California, USA.

Nature Neuroscience
|March 9, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) enhances learning by strengthening brain connections via AMPA receptors. It also improves cue-reward learning and reduces irrelevant behaviors through dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, respectively.

More Related Videos

Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice
07:02

Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice

Published on: March 20, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity
11:56

Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity

Published on: November 11, 2017

Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice
07:02

Trace Fear Conditioning in Mice

Published on: March 20, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is widely used but its acute effects on behavior are not fully understood.
  • The lateral amygdala plays a key role in learning and memory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying methylphenidate's acute effects on learning and behavior.
  • To investigate the specific roles of dopamine receptors in methylphenidate's actions within the lateral amygdala.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo pharmacology and ex vivo electrophysiology in the lateral amygdala.
  • Administration of methylphenidate and a selective dopamine transporter inhibitor.
  • Assessment of synaptic plasticity and behavioral learning paradigms.

Main Results:

  • Methylphenidate facilitated synaptic strengthening in cortico-amygdala pathways via postsynaptic AMPA receptor currents.
  • Local methylphenidate enhanced cue-reward learning through dopamine D1 receptors.
  • Methylphenidate suppressed task-irrelevant behavior via dopamine D2 receptors.

Conclusions:

  • Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors play distinct roles in mediating methylphenidate's effects on neural transmission and behavior.
  • Methylphenidate enhances learning and modulates behavior through specific dopaminergic pathways in the lateral amygdala.