Hebbian And Synaptic Plasticity Flashcards
Importance of Donald Hebb
Two neurons become stronger synapsed with more use, stronger association
What is Hebb’s rule
Neurons that fire together, wire together
What is hebbian plasticity
Basic PRINCIPLE that learning and memory can occur due to changes in the strength of connections between neurons
- Hebb inferred the principle without knowing the mechanisms
What are the mechanisms for hebbian plasticity
Long-term potentiation (LTP)
Long-term depression (LTD)
Define homeostasis
Body’s ability to maintain a set point
Homeostatic plasticity function
Move neurons back to set point (original stage) after modification
What does continual excitation cause
Excitotoxicity
-mess up ATP production, mitochondria issues
Explain long-term potentiation
Synaptic activity increases future post-synaptic potentials
Or
Excitation at synapse determines greater excitability in the future
What/when was the first evidence of LTP
1973
Trains of high frequency APs led to increased EPSP
- prove EPSP increase in future after excitation at synapse
What is a high frequency value
50 Hz
How are synaptic experiments recorded
Electrode- pre synaptic neuron
Recorder- post synaptic neuron
How is LTP triggered
High sustained Ca in post synaptic neuron triggers LTP
- intracellular Ca signalling
What does LTP cause, what is this dependent on
Structural changes at the postsynaptic terminal
Dependent on glutaminergic receptors (AMPA/NMDA)
What kind of channels are NMDA and AMPA
NMDA- Ca channel (also permeable to Na, K)
AMPA- Na channel (also permeable to K)
What kind of receptors are NMDA and AMPA
Glutamate receptors
Explain LTP pathway for NMDA and AMPA (when there is a depolarizing signal)
Local depolarization removes Mg from NMDA (at RMP NMDAR is blocked by Mg)
Ca influx through NMDA (in postsynaptic membrane) activates intracellular CaMKII pathway (CaMKII is Ca dependent kinase)
Insertion of AMPAR in post synaptic membrane (inside neuron brought to surface) via vesicular fusion caused by kinase phosphorylation (now have more post synaptic channels, can generate larger EPSP)
Provide details for AMPAR
- tetrameric (4 subunits) can choose from GluA1-4
- central Arg provides specificity
- inward current at negative mV (Na)
- outward current at positive mV (K)
- without GluA2 inwardly rectifying
Provide main function of NMDAR
Trigger LTP: strong activation of NMDAR lead to large increase in postsynaptic Ca
Trigger LTD: modest activation of NMDAR leads to modest increase in postsynaptic Ca
AMPA and NMDA are non-selective ion channels so where is their reversal potential
Near zero (I vs V graph)