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Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Published on: September 20, 2024

More conditioning stimuli enhance synaptic plasticity in the human spinal cord

Siobhan C Fitzpatrick¹, Billy L Luu¹, Jane E Butler¹

¹Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker Street, Randwick, NSW, Australia; University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology

|April 28, 2015

Abstract

Objective:

To examine whether more paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) is more effective at inducing spinal level plasticity.

Methods:

To produce facilitation, corticospinal volleys evoked by motor cortical transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were timed to arrive at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses prior to antidromic potentials evoked in motoneurones by electrical brachial plexus stimulation. Paired stimuli were delivered repeatedly. 50-pair conditioning (50-PCMS) was compared to 100 pairs in single block (100-PCMSsingle) and spaced (2 blocks of 50, 15-min break; 100-PCMSspaced) patterns, and to 50 single, unpaired TMS (50-TMS). Biceps responses to cervicomedullary stimulation (cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials, CMEPs) and TMS (motor evoked potentials, MEPs) were measured before and for 1h after conditioning (recorded each 5 min).

Results:

After 100-PCMS, average CMEP areas were increased by 46 ± 55% (mean ± SD; n=10; 100-PCMSsingle) and 71 ± 99% (100-PCMSspaced). 50-PCMS produced a non-significant 6 ± 40% increase. After 100-PCMSsingle and 100-PCMSspaced, CMEPs were larger than those after 50-TMS from 0 to 60 min (p<0.05). 100-PCMSsingle and 100-PCMSspaced produced more reliable changes than 50-PCMS. Overall, MEPs were larger at 35-60 min; however there were no differences between conditioning protocols.

Conclusions:

More PCMS produces more reliable enhancement of corticospinal transmission.

Significance:

This technique has therapeutic potential to improve muscle control in patients with reduced descending drive.

Keywords:

Corticospinal STDP Spike-timing-dependent plasticity

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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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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.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

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Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...

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