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Related Concept Videos

Long-term Potentiation01:35

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.
Long-term Potentiation01:25

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
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-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.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
09:39

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation

Published on: June 26, 2013

Synergistic Short-Term Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms for Working Memory.

Florian Fiebig1, Nikolaos Chrysanthisdis1, Anders Lansner1,2,3

  • 1KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|May 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Working memory mechanisms involve more than one plasticity type. Combining intrinsic excitability, synaptic facilitation, and Hebbian plasticity in spiking neural networks enhances working memory task performance.

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Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice
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Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
09:39

Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation

Published on: June 26, 2013

Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents
11:29

Investigation of Synaptic Tagging/Capture and Cross-capture using Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rodents

Published on: September 4, 2015

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice
11:13

Long-term Potentiation of Perforant Pathway-dentate Gyrus Synapse in Freely Behaving Mice

Published on: November 29, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Working memory (WM) is crucial for cognitive tasks, but its underlying neural and synaptic mechanisms are debated.
  • Traditional models focus on persistent neuronal firing, while newer theories propose dynamic maintenance mechanisms.
  • Computational models explore various biologically plausible plasticity mechanisms for WM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interactions between different short-term plasticity mechanisms in working memory.
  • To evaluate if combining plasticity mechanisms enhances computational models of WM.
  • To assess the biological plausibility and functional range of spiking neural network models for WM.

Main Methods:

  • Systematically tested combinations of intrinsic excitability, synaptic facilitation/augmentation, and Hebbian plasticity.
  • Utilized a spiking neural network model.
  • Evaluated performance on a suite of WM tasks including one-shot encoding, free/cued recall, and multi-item maintenance/updating.

Main Results:

  • Composite models integrating multiple plasticity mechanisms outperformed reductionist models.
  • Interactions between plasticity types broadened the functional range of WM models.
  • Specific plasticity types were attributed to observable differences in operational task performance.

Conclusions:

  • Working memory function is better explained by a combination of plasticity mechanisms rather than a single one.
  • Interactions among plasticity mechanisms enhance both model functionality and biological plausibility.
  • This study advances understanding of synaptic plasticity's role in supporting diverse working memory operations.