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Long-term Potentiation

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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

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Published on: May 18, 2020

Ethanol modulation of synaptic plasticity.

Brian A McCool¹

¹Department of Physiology & Pharmacology and the Translational Center for the Neurobehavioral Study of Alcohol, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC 27157, USA. bmccool@wfubmc.edu

Neuropharmacology

|January 4, 2011

Summary

Ethanol exposure alters synaptic plasticity, affecting neurotransmission flexibility. This modulation contributes to alcohol abuse and dependence by impacting learning and memory mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurophysiology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Synaptic plasticity is crucial for neural activity modulation and memory formation.
Ethanol exposure significantly impacts synaptic mechanisms.
Understanding these effects is vital for addressing alcohol abuse and dependence.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the modulation of short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity by ethanol.
To examine ethanol-sensitive cellular substrates.
To explore the behavioral implications of ethanol's effects on plasticity.

Main Methods:

Review of preclinical, animal-model based neurophysiology literature.
Comparison of in vitro and in vivo study findings.
Analysis of ethanol's impact on synaptic plasticity mechanisms.

Main Results:

Ethanol exposure modulates both short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity.
Specific cellular substrates are sensitive to ethanol's effects.
Preclinical data show variations between in vitro and in vivo findings.

Conclusions:

Ethanol's modulation of synaptic plasticity is a key factor in alcohol abuse and dependence.
Understanding these neurophysiological changes can inform therapeutic strategies.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate behavioral contributions.