Long-Term Potentiation/Depression

Question 1

Long-term potentiation

Answer 1

Hebb’s rule
AMPA receptors are activated, NMDA receptors drop magnesium, more AMPA receptors on membrane causing larger response from glutamate and greater connections between NMDA and AMPA receptors
Process by which synaptic connections between neurons becomes stronger with frequent activation
Mechanisms underlying LTP –> synaptic plasticity during learning
Involves glutamatergic NMDA and AMPA receptors

Question 2

Hebb’s rule

Answer 2

If a synapse repeatedly becomes active around the same time a postsynaptic neuron fires, changes strengthen that connection
“Neurons that fire together, wire together”

Question 3

Hebb’s rule was confirmed by

Answer 3

Discovery of LTP

Question 4

Role of glutamatergic NMDA and AMPA receptors in LTP

Answer 4

In hippocampus, LTP depends on activation of NMDA receptors
Activation of NMDA receptors increases the number of postsynaptic AMPA receptors

Question 5

Long-term depression

Answer 5

Opposing process of LTP
Still uses NMDA and AMPA receptors, but also presynaptic changes
Weakens synapses over time
Involved in synaptic plasticity - reducing a learned pairing over time to have a more flexible response