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Related Concept Videos

Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

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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...
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Long-term Potentiation01:35

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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.
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Long-term Potentiation01:25

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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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Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

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When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

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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.
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Electrophysiological Investigations of Retinogeniculate and Corticogeniculate Synapse Function
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Prolonged synaptic currents increase relay neuron firing at the developing retinogeniculate synapse.

Jessica L Hauser1, Xiaojin Liu1, Elizabeth Y Litvina1

  • 1Department of Neurology, F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Journal of Neurophysiology
|June 27, 2014
PubMed
Summary

During development, glutamate spillover and asynchronous release shape retinogeniculate synapses. Immature connections show prominent glutamate spillover, influencing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) to thalamic relay neuron communication.

Keywords:
asynchronous releasedevelopmentglutamate spilloverretinogeniculate synapsevisual system

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Retinogeniculate synapses undergo significant developmental changes, including synapse elimination and strengthening.
  • Synaptic specificity is believed to be crucial for these developmental processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of glutamate spillover and asynchronous release in retinogeniculate synaptic transmission during development.
  • To characterize novel aspects of synaptic transmission in immature visual pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings of excitatory postsynaptic currents.
  • Pharmacological manipulation using low-affinity glutamate receptor antagonists.
  • Measurements of extracellular calcium concentrations.
  • Fluorescence imaging of presynaptic calcium transients.

Main Results:

  • Immature retinogeniculate synapses exhibit slow excitatory postsynaptic current decay, indicative of glutamate spillover.
  • A novel, spillover-mediated AMPA receptor current was identified in immature relay neurons.
  • Prolonged residual presynaptic calcium contributes to both glutamate spillover and asynchronous release.
  • Evidence suggests spillover occurs between boutons of different retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).

Conclusions:

  • Glutamate spillover and asynchronous release are prominent features of developing retinogeniculate synapses.
  • These mechanisms expand the functional connectivity beyond anatomical predictions, with more RGCs influencing relay neuron firing during development.