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Long-term Potentiation

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 Potentiation

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.

Graded Potential

Graded Potential

Graded potentials are localized fluctuations in the cell membrane's electrical charge, commonly found in the dendrites of neurons. The magnitude of these potential changes depends on the strength of the initiating stimulus. In a membrane at its resting potential, a graded potential signifies a voltage shift either above -70 mV or below -70 mV.
Graded potentials fall into two categories: depolarizing and hyperpolarizing. Depolarizing graded potentials typically occur when sodium (Na+) or calcium...

Long-term Depression

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...

Long-term Depression

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.

Resting Potential Decay

Resting Potential Decay

The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the membrane is slightly permeable to ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) and highly permeable to potassium ions (K+). Differences in the ions' concentration inside the cell compared to the outside are maintained by membrane transport proteins like channels and pumps.
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane through...

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Slice Patch Clamp Technique for Analyzing Learning-Induced Plasticity

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Subthreshold membrane depolarization as memory trace for perceptual learning.

Osamu Hoshino¹

¹Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Ibaraki University, Hitachi, Ibaraki, Japan. hoshino@mx.ibaraki.ac.jp

Neural Computation

|September 17, 2011

Summary

Ambient gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels influence synaptic plasticity and perceptual learning. Changes in ambient GABA create subthreshold membrane depolarization, potentially forming lasting memory traces in the brain.

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Published on: January 4, 2010

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Synaptic plasticity underlies the adaptable brain and perceptual learning.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) influences synaptic plasticity and may gate perceptual learning.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how ambient (extrasynaptic) GABA affects experience-dependent synaptic alteration.
To model the role of GABA transporters in regulating ambient GABA and its impact on neuronal responses.

Main Methods:

Simulated a cortical neural network model.
Modified synaptic connection strength based on spike-timing-dependent plasticity.
Investigated the effects of ambient GABA concentration changes on neuronal membrane potential and activity.

Main Results:

Reduced ambient GABA concentration caused subthreshold depolarization, enhancing neuronal responses without altering spiking activity.
Increased ambient GABA concentration depressed subthreshold depolarization.
Ambient GABA levels, regulated by transporters, influenced the persistence of neuronal activity patterns.

Conclusions:

Ambient GABA plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining memory traces for perceptual learning.
Ongoing-spontaneous subthreshold membrane depolarization may represent a memory trace, with its persistence dependent on ambient GABA levels.
Transporter-mediated regulation of ambient GABA is vital for memory consolidation and retrieval in the brain.