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Related Concept Videos

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...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density
09:10

DetectSyn: A Rapid, Unbiased Fluorescent Method to Detect Changes in Synapse Density

Published on: July 22, 2022

For synapses, it's depression not death.

Helen S Bateup1, Bernardo L Sabatini

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Cell
|June 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Long-term depression (LTD) involves synaptic strength changes crucial for memory. This study reveals caspases, typically linked to cell death, play a key role in LTD within neurons.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Long-term depression (LTD) is a key mechanism for synaptic plasticity, essential for learning and memory.
  • This process involves a decrease in synaptic strength, regulated by neuronal activity.

Discussion:

  • Li et al. (2010) uncovered a novel function for caspases, enzymes usually associated with programmed cell death (apoptosis).
  • These mitochondrial-activated caspases are shown to be involved in LTD independently of their cell death role.
  • This suggests neurons repurpose the cell death pathway for synaptic regulation.

Key Insights:

  • Caspases have an apoptosis-independent function in regulating synaptic strength.
  • Mitochondrial caspases are implicated in the molecular machinery of long-term depression.
  • Neuronal co-option of cell death pathways highlights complex cellular adaptations.

Outlook:

  • Further research can explore the precise molecular mechanisms of caspase involvement in LTD.
  • Investigating this pathway could reveal new therapeutic targets for cognitive disorders.
  • Understanding this dual role of caspases deepens our knowledge of neuronal function and plasticity.