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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

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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 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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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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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.
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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.
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Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...
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Fast Learning with Weak Synaptic Plasticity.

Pierre Yger1, Marcel Stimberg2, Romain Brette2

  • 1Institut d'Etudes de la Cognition, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75005 Paris, France, Sorbonne Université, UPMC Université Paris 06 UMRS968, 75006 Paris, France, and Institut de la Vision, INSERM U968, CNRS UMR7210, 75012 Paris, France pierre.yger@inserm.fr.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|October 2, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fast learning is possible with minimal synaptic changes due to the large number of synapses on cortical neurons. This leverage effect, driven by precise spike timing, reconciles rapid learning with gradual synaptic plasticity.

Keywords:
learningnetworkperceptual learningspike-timing-dependent plasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • Long-term memory is linked to synaptic plasticity, but in vitro studies show small synaptic changes after few stimuli.
  • Fast learning from few presentations contrasts with the gradual nature of observed synaptic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To theoretically demonstrate how weak synaptic plasticity can support fast learning in cortical neurons.
  • To explain the apparent paradox between rapid learning and slow synaptic changes.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of synaptic plasticity in cortical neurons.
  • Analysis of the impact of a large number of synapses (N) on synaptic potentiation.
  • Investigation of the role of spike timing and balanced excitatory/inhibitory input.

Main Results:

  • Weak synaptic plasticity can drive fast learning due to the large number of synapses (N) onto a neuron.
  • The relative effect of a single spike on synaptic potentiation scales with √N.
  • Precise spike timing is crucial for this 'leverage effect'.

Conclusions:

  • The large number of synapses on cortical neurons enables fast learning with minimal synaptic modifications.
  • A balanced state of excitatory and inhibitory input amplifies the effect of small synaptic changes.
  • This model reconciles behavioral observations of fast learning with physiological mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.