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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
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

Upgrading the sleeping brain with targeted memory reactivation.

Delphine Oudiette¹, Ken A Paller

¹Department of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

|February 26, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Memory consolidation during sleep actively maintains stored information. Reactivation of memories during sleep, even when subtly cued, benefits long-term memory preservation and retrieval.

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Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement

Published on: September 18, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Sleep Science

Background:

Human memory undergoes beneficial changes post-encoding.
Memory consolidation during sleep is crucial for maintaining lifelong memories.
Sleep-dependent memory reactivation influences retrievable information.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of sleep in memory consolidation.
To explore how neurocognitive processing during sleep impacts memory storage.
To examine the effects of covert sensory stimulation on sleep-dependent memory.

Main Methods:

Utilizing covert auditory or olfactory stimulation during sleep.
Monitoring neurocognitive processing during sleep.
Assessing memory storage and retrieval after sleep.

Main Results:

Covertly cued memories showed enhanced storage during sleep.
Neurocognitive processing during sleep positively influenced memory consolidation.
Subtle sensory cues during sleep can selectively benefit memory.

Conclusions:

Sleep plays an active role in preserving and consolidating memories.
Covert sensory stimulation during sleep can be a tool to study memory mechanisms.
Understanding sleep-dependent memory processing sheds light on human brain memory preservation.