Long-term synaptic changes produced by a cellular analog of classical conditioning in Aplysia

Article Abstract:

Both short-term and long-term memory are thought to occur from changes in the strength of synapses (connections between neurons, or nerve cells). Associative synaptic plasticity (capacity for being changed) is the activation of neural pathways at the same time that other pathways are activated. With associative synaptic plasticity, changes occur that are different than those which occur if the same pathways are activated at different times. Associative synaptic plasticity is thought to be the mechanism behind classical, or Pavlovian conditioning. Associative plasticity may also function in other higher forms of conditioning associative memories and the self-organization of neural networks. Various instances of associative synaptic plasticity have been shown in short-term situations. In Aplysia, connections between sensory and motor (functional) neurons, are considered a cellular analog of a classical conditioning protocol of short-term associative plasticity. Long-term (24 hour) associative synaptic plasticity has also been produced with excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in Aplysia. The EPSPs produced when activity was paired with a reinforcing stimulus was larger than in unpaired controls. Thus, both long-term and short-term associative plasticity can occur in the connection of sensory to motor neurons. The molecular mechanisms underlying long-term associative plasticity and classical conditioning can be analyzed with this system. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Nervous system, Nerve tissue

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Synapse elimination: for nerves it's all or nothing

Article Abstract:

Synapse elimination is the process through which the multiple motoneurons that innervate each muscle fiber in newborn vertebrates are reduced to leave a single motoneuron in the muscle fibers of adults. Research on the physiological changes during synapse elimination is discussed.

Developmental neurology, Neural circuitry

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More than just frequency detectors?

Article Abstract:

Researchers have developed a model of synaptic behavior to forecast the effect of synapses changes on a cortical neuron. Studies indicate that cortical neurons can respond to frequency changes in addition to acting as coincidence detectors.

Models, Cerebral cortex, Neural transmission, Synaptic transmission

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