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The roles of STP and LTP in synaptic encoding
Arturas Volianskis1, Graham L Collingridge, Morten S Jensen
1Institute of Biomedicine , University of Aarhus , Denmark ; Centre for Synaptic Plasticity , University of Bristol , United Kingdom.
Peerj
|May 3, 2013
Summary
Short-term potentiation (STP) modulates synaptic transmission frequency, while long-term potentiation (LTP) preserves signal fidelity. These distinct mechanisms impact information transfer differently in the hippocampus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Learning and Memory
Background:
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a key cellular mechanism for learning and memory, traditionally viewed as a uniform increase in synaptic strength.
- LTP at CA3-CA1 hippocampal synapses exhibits a transient phase (STP) that precedes stable LTP.
- The distinct roles of STP and LTP in synaptic information processing remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate the functional consequences of short-term potentiation (STP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) on synaptic information transfer.
- To investigate how STP and LTP affect neuronal responses during high-frequency burst stimulation.
Main Methods:
- Studied population neuronal responses to high-frequency afferent stimulation bursts before and after LTP induction.
- Analyzed synaptic responses during bursts to assess changes in potentiation and frequency modulation.
Main Results:
- Synaptic responses during bursts were equally potentiated during both LTP and STP.
- STP was found to modulate the frequency response of synaptic transmission.
- LTP, in contrast, was observed to preserve the fidelity of synaptic information transfer.
Conclusions:
- STP and LTP represent distinct processes with different functional roles in synaptic plasticity.
- STP alters the frequency-dependent properties of synaptic transmission.
- LTP ensures the reliable transmission of synaptic information, preserving signal fidelity.
Related Concept Videos
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.
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...
01:32Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)
Postsynaptic potential (PSP) refers to a change in the electrical potential of a neuron when neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons bind to postsynaptic receptors. This potential can either be excitatory, leading to depolarization and ultimately action potential generation, or inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization and suppression of the postsynaptic neuron.
There are two types of receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
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01:19The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
01:28Integration of Synaptic Events
Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
01:05Long-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.