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Related Concept Videos

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 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.
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.
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.
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

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Ex Vivo Optogenetic Interrogation of Long-Range Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity from Medial Prefrontal Cortex to Lateral Entorhinal Cortex
11:31

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Published on: February 25, 2022

Human synapses show a wide temporal window for spike-timing-dependent plasticity.

Guilherme Testa-Silva1, Matthijs B Verhoog, Natalia A Goriounova

  • 1Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
|March 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Human hippocampal synapses exhibit spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), strengthening with positive and some negative timing. Timing rules differ from rodents, suggesting a flexible interpretation of Hebbian learning in the human brain.

Keywords:
Hebbian plasticityhippocampushumanneocortexspike-timing-dependent plasticitysynapsesynaptic plasticity

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Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents
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Ex Vivo Optogenetic Interrogation of Long-Range Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity from Medial Prefrontal Cortex to Lateral Entorhinal Cortex
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Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents

Published on: September 4, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Human Brain Research

Background:

  • Neuronal connection strength changes with experience, enabling learning.
  • Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) in animals shows varied temporal windows.
  • Human synaptic learning rules and STDP temporal windows remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if adult human synapses exhibit activity-dependent plasticity.
  • To determine the temporal windows for STDP in human hippocampal synapses.
  • To compare human STDP timing rules with those found in rodent models.

Main Methods:

  • Direct testing of synaptic plasticity in human hippocampal slices.
  • Utilizing tissue from epilepsy patients undergoing surgery.
  • Stimulating presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons with precise millisecond timing.

Main Results:

  • Adult human hippocampal synapses demonstrate activity-dependent strength changes.
  • Both positive and negative timing intervals (down to -80 ms) induced potentiation (tLTP).
  • Negative intervals (-80 to -130 ms) resulted in depression (tLTD), with distinct timing from rodents.

Conclusions:

  • Human hippocampal synapses exhibit STDP, similar to rodents.
  • The specific timing rules for STDP in humans differ from rodents.
  • Human STDP suggests a less rigid adherence to traditional Hebbian principles.