NeuroscienceLesson 1 of 5 in the course Synaptic plasticity and memory

Synaptic Plasticity: Mechanisms, Timescales, and Regulation

5 flashcards · 4 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Synaptic plasticity is the capacity of connections between neurons to change in strength. This lesson introduces how plasticity supports learning and memory, the Hebbian principle, and the discovery of long-term potentiation.

A synapse is a specialized junction through which one neuron communicates with another. Synaptic plasticity is the ability of that connection to strengthen or weaken over time, often in response to changes in activity. Because memories are thought to depend on interconnected neural circuits, changes at synapses provide an important biological basis for learning and memory.

All flashcards

What is synaptic scaling?
A homeostatic adjustment of synaptic strengths that helps stabilize a neuron's firing rate.
What is metaplasticity?
A change in the rules or thresholds that govern a synapse's future plasticity.
How can NMDA receptors contribute to excitatory synaptic plasticity?
Their activation can allow calcium into the postsynaptic cell, influencing pathways associated with LTP or LTD.
How can astrocyte-released D-serine influence synaptic plasticity?
It acts as an NMDA-receptor co-agonist and can affect NMDA-dependent plasticity.
How can synaptic scaling adjust multiple synapses?
It can change their strengths by a multiplicative factor, shifting overall input while preserving relative differences.

Quiz questions

  1. In the general spike-timing-dependent plasticity rule, what tends to happen when the presynaptic neuron fires shortly before the postsynaptic neuron?Answer: The synaptic connection tends to strengthen.
  2. What commonly contributes to short-term synaptic depression?Answer: Depletion of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles.
  3. How can activated protein kinases increase the effectiveness of an excitatory synapse?Answer: They can phosphorylate AMPA receptors and promote their recruitment to the membrane.
  4. In the reported study of older rats, what followed CRISPR-based activation of the IGF-2 promoter?Answer: Memory and synaptic function improved in that study.

Based on the Wikipedia article Synaptic plasticity, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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