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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...
Neuroplasticity01:01

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.

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Related Experiment Video

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Transcranial Electrical Brain Stimulation in Alert Rodents
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Direct current stimulation promotes BDNF-dependent synaptic plasticity: potential implications for motor learning.

Brita Fritsch1, Janine Reis, Keri Martinowich

  • 1Epilepsy Research Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Neuron
|May 4, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances motor learning by strengthening synaptic connections in the motor cortex. This process relies on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB, crucial for synaptic plasticity.

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Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Mice
11:54

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Mice

Published on: September 23, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Neuroplasticity

Background:

  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly used clinically, but its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood.
  • Anodal tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) has been shown to improve motor skill learning in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tDCS-induced motor cortex plasticity.
  • To investigate the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB in tDCS-mediated motor learning.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings in mouse M1 slices to assess synaptic potentiation.
  • Investigating the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists and low-frequency stimulation (LFS).
  • Utilizing BDNF and TrkB mutant mice to determine the necessity of these factors.

Main Results:

  • Direct current stimulation (DCS) induced a long-lasting, polarity-specific, NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic potentiation (DCS-LTP) when coupled with LFS.
  • DCS-LTP was dependent on enhanced BDNF secretion and TrkB activation.
  • DCS-LTP was absent in BDNF and TrkB mutant mice, confirming their critical role.
  • The BDNF val66met polymorphism, affecting BDNF secretion, impaired motor skill acquisition in humans and mice.

Conclusions:

  • tDCS enhances motor skill learning by augmenting synaptic plasticity in the motor cortex.
  • BDNF secretion and TrkB activation are key mediators of tDCS-induced synaptic potentiation and motor learning.
  • The efficacy of tDCS for motor learning is contingent upon intact activity-dependent BDNF secretion pathways.