A form of cellular plasticity in which a postsynaptic neuron becomes more sensitive (potentiated) to the signal received from the presynaptic neuron. This potentiation is usually produced by a rapid and sustained burst of firing by the presynaptic neuron. The potentiation can then spread to other presynaptic neurons provided that they have fired in the past at the same time as the presynaptic cell that produced the potentiation in the first place. See also activity dependence.
The strengthening of a synaptic connection so that postsynaptic neurons are more easily activated. go to glossary index
an increase in postsynaptic potential caused by repeated stimulation of a cell, which is thought to occur in many structures, providing the basis for much of learning and memory, probably in the form of long-term modification of neural pathways.
An enduring increase in functional synaptic strength generally accepted to play important role in memory formation based on the repetitive, nearly synchronous coactivation of adjacent nerve fibers onto the postsynaptic membrane.
An enduring increase in the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials as a result of high-frequency (tetanic) stimulation of afferent pathways. It is measured both as the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials and as the magnitude of the postsynaptic-cell population spike. LTP is most often studied in the hippocampus and is often considered to be the cellular basis of learning and memory in vertebrates.
is defined as an increase in strength of synaptic transmission with repetitive use that lasts for more than a few minutes. In the hippocampus LTP can be triggered by less than 1 second of intense synaptic activity and lasts for hours or more. It may, with LTD, underlie memory acquisition
An increase in size of a synaptic potential lasting one hour or more.
The process underlying learning and memory by which one brain cell becomes sensitive to stimulation from a neighbor cell.
the neurological basis of learning, it is the process of stimulating a dendritic spine repeatedly, leaving it more responsive to new input of the same type
State of enhanced excitability following repeated stimulation of synaptic links. Involves series of receptor-activated second messengers with associated sequelae.
A phenomenon concerning the neural bases of learning. Once stimulated, neurons will show an increase in their rate of activity when subsequently stimulated (at least up to a period of months).
In neuroscience, long-term potentiation (LTP) is an increase in the chemical strength of a synapse that lasts from minutes to several days. It has been observed both in cultured cells (in vitro) and in living animals (in vivo). In cultured cells, applying a series of short, high-frequency electric stimuli to a synapse can strengthen, or potentiate, the synapse for minutes to hours.
