Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

5.1K
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
5.1K
GPCR Desensitization01:12

GPCR Desensitization

8.9K
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling plays a crucial role in cell functioning. GPCR desensitization is an equally essential process. It allows cells to respond to changing environments and regain sensitivity to new stimuli while preventing unnecessary stimulation when no longer needed. Prolonged exposure to stimuli leads to GPCR desensitization. It involves blocking the receptors from binding and activating additional G proteins. This inhibits activation of downstream effectors, thereby...
8.9K
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

6.5K
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...
6.5K
Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)01:32

Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)

11.6K
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.
The ionotropic receptor is the membrane protein that has an...
11.6K
Long-term Potentiation01:25

Long-term Potentiation

4.0K
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...
4.0K
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

59.8K
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.
59.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Schizophrenia-associated glycoprotein Adamtsl3 regulates perineuronal net formation, maintenance, and adult cortical plasticity.

Molecular psychiatry·2026
Same author

Cryo-EM structures of higher order Gephyrin oligomers reveal principles of inhibitory postsynaptic scaffold organization.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

To Believe or Not to Believe in Conspiracy Claims? That Is a Question for Signal Detection Theory.

Psychological science·2026
Same author

Measuring the semantic priming effect across many languages.

Nature human behaviour·2025
Same author

Budget impact analysis of Haemate-<i>P</i> as long-term prophylaxis and on-demand therapy for von Willebrand disease in Spain.

Journal of medical economics·2025
Same author

Activational and Organizational Effects of Sex Hormones on Hippocampal Inhibitory Neurons.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
07:51

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

18.0K

Activity-dependent inhibitory synapse remodeling through gephyrin phosphorylation.

Carmen E Flores1, Irina Nikonenko1, Pablo Mendez1

  • 1Département des Neurosciences Fondamentales, Faculté de Médecine, Centre Médical Universitaire, Université de Genève, 1211 Geneve 4, Switzerland; and.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 24, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Learning-related neural activity strengthens inhibitory synapses by increasing gephyrin clusters, a process dependent on CaMKII signaling. This reveals a key homeostatic mechanism for balancing brain excitation and inhibition.

Keywords:
CaMKIIgabaergic synapsehippocampusinhibitionplasticity

More Related Videos

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

8.2K
An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
09:33

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

Published on: June 26, 2018

8.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
07:51

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

18.0K
A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking
10:34

A High-content Assay for Monitoring AMPA Receptor Trafficking

Published on: January 28, 2019

8.2K
An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins
09:33

An Optical Assay for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Cultured Neurons Overexpressing Presynaptic Proteins

Published on: June 26, 2018

8.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Molecular Mechanisms

Background:

  • Maintaining excitation-inhibition balance is crucial for neuronal network function.
  • Mechanisms linking excitatory activity to inhibitory synapse plasticity remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how excitatory activity influences inhibitory synapse plasticity.
  • To identify molecular players involved in activity-dependent adaptation of inhibitory synapses.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized tagged gephyrin in hippocampal slice cultures to monitor inhibitory synapse dynamics.
  • Employed learning-related activity patterns and optogenetics to stimulate neurons.
  • Correlated confocal electron microscopy identified gephyrin clusters at inhibitory synapses.
  • Pharmacological inhibition and phospho-mutant analysis assessed the role of CaMKII and gephyrin phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • Learning-related activity and optogenetic stimulation rapidly increased gephyrin cluster formation and size at inhibitory synapses.
  • This morphological plasticity correlated with enhanced spontaneous inhibitory activity.
  • The process was CaMKII-dependent and involved gephyrin phosphorylation at a CaMKII target site.
  • Gephyrin phospho-mutants disrupted or mimicked this plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • Activity-dependent plasticity of perisomatic inhibitory synapses is regulated by a homeostatic mechanism.
  • CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation of gephyrin is critical for this inhibitory plasticity.
  • This study elucidates how neuronal activity shapes inhibitory synapse function and balance.