title: Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal slice: functional consequences.
abstract: There are 3 known forms of synaptic plasticity at CNS synapses: long-term potentiation (LTP) mediated by NMDA receptor activation, LTP mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) activation, and long-term depression (LTD) mediated by the NMDA receptor. All 3 forms of synaptic plasticity can be observed in hippocampal CAl cells, all are induced by afferent activation, all involve Ca2+ influx, and all activate Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms. We consider the functional consequences of the presence of 3, sometime opposing, forms of synaptic plasticity at the same synapse. We suggest that the 2 forms of LTP have different consequences for the synapse. We postulate that the co-existence of potentiating and depressing capabilities influences the network processing capabilities of neural networks.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate