Plasticity resembling spike-timing dependent synaptic plasticity: the evidence in human cortex
Florian Müller-Dahlhaus1, Ulf Ziemann, Joseph Classen
1Department of Neurology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) can now be studied in the human cortex using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS induces STDP-like changes, offering insights into learning and memory mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) is a cellular mechanism of learning.
- Its study at the systems level in the human cortex was previously debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence for studying STDP in the human cortex using non-invasive brain stimulation.
- To critically assess the correspondence between TMS-induced plasticity and cellular STDP.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent experiments using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in human subjects.
- Analysis of TMS-induced changes in cortical excitability and their dependence on timing.
- Examination of pharmacological and behavioral modulation of TMS-induced plasticity.
Main Results:
- TMS can induce bidirectional, long-lasting changes in cortical excitability within a critical time window.
- These changes share characteristics with cellular STDP, including NMDA receptor involvement.
- Motor learning modulates TMS-induced plasticity, and vice versa, suggesting links to long-term potentiation.
Conclusions:
- It is now possible to induce and study STDP-like changes in the intact human nervous system using TMS.
- TMS provides a tool to investigate synaptic plasticity in behavior, learning, and memory.
Related Concept Videos
01:01Neuroplasticity
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.
01:25Long-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...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:35Long-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.
00:58Plasticity
Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...