A discussion of activity-dependent forms of synaptic weakening and their possible role in ocular dominance plasticity

Activity-dependent synaptic weakening is likely to be involved in numerous types of developmentally regulated cortical plasticity. The possible roles of two models of synaptic weakening, homosynaptic- and heterosynaptic-long-term-depression (LTD), are discussed. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) as they relate to LTD and ocular dominance plasticity will also be considered.