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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.
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The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
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Published on: October 24, 2018

Structural and synaptic plasticity in stress-related disorders.

Daniel J Christoffel1, Sam A Golden, Scott J Russo

  • 1Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.

Reviews in the Neurosciences
|October 5, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Stress alters brain circuitry, impacting behavior and mood. This review explores how stress affects neural pathways, leading to mood disorders and depression.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Stress significantly impacts brain structure and function, leading to behavioral changes.
  • Synaptic plasticity is crucial for information storage and adaptation but can become maladaptive under stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of stress on mesocorticolimbic brain systems.
  • To discuss how stress-induced neuronal adaptations contribute to mood disorders.
  • To connect basic research findings with human brain imaging studies in depression.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on stress, synaptic plasticity, and mesocorticolimbic pathways.
  • Analysis of neuronal adaptations and their behavioral implications.
  • Integration of findings with human neuroimaging data.

Main Results:

  • Prolonged stress dysregulates synaptic plasticity and brain connectivity.
  • Alterations in mesocorticolimbic systems are linked to pathological behaviors and mood disorders.
  • Stress-induced changes in neuronal structure and function underlie neural dysfunction in depression.

Conclusions:

  • Stress profoundly affects neural circuits regulating mood and motivation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to addressing mood disorders like depression.
  • Bridging basic science and clinical observations offers insights into depression's neural basis.