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Updated: May 30, 2026
05:01
Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Published on: September 20, 2024
Electrical synapses formed by connexin36 regulate inhibition- and experience-dependent plasticity
Friso Postma1, Cheng-Hang Liu, Caitlin Dietsche
1Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Summary
Electrical synapses in inhibitory networks regulate brain plasticity. Eliminating these connections impairs visual cortex function and learning, suggesting a key role for synchronized inhibition in experience-dependent adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Inhibitory Circuits
Background:
- The mammalian brain exhibits experience-dependent plasticity, crucial for adaptation.
- Inhibitory circuits and electrical synapses are vital components of neural networks.
- The precise function of electrical coupling in neural plasticity remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of electrical synapses in experience-dependent plasticity.
- To elucidate the function of connexin36-mediated electrical coupling in inhibitory networks.
- To understand the impact of altered inhibitory network synchronization on visual cortex plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Elimination of electrical synapses formed by connexin36.
- Assessment of inhibitory efficacy and GABA release.
- Electrophysiological recordings in the visual cortex.
- Evaluation of theta-burst long-term potentiation and ocular dominance plasticity.
Main Results:
- Eliminating electrical synapses altered inhibitory efficacy and caused frequency facilitation.
- A decrease in GABA release within the inhibitory network was observed.
- Failure of theta-burst long-term potentiation induction occurred.
- Impaired ocular dominance plasticity in the visual cortex was evident.
Conclusions:
- Electrical synapses play a critical role in regulating inhibitory network synchronization.
- Connexin36-mediated electrical coupling is essential for experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex.
- Synchronization of inhibitory networks via electrical synapses represents a unique mechanism for plasticity regulation.
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01:28Electrical Synapses
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01:09Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
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01:12Synaptic Signaling
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01:26Chemical 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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01:26Chemical Synapses
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01:25Overview of Synapses
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