Regulation of synaptic efficacy by coincidence of postsynaptic APs and EPSPs.
Activity-driven modifications in synaptic connections between neurons in the neocortex may occur during development and learning. In dual whole-cell voltage recordings from pyramidal neurons, the coincidence of postsynaptic action potentials (APs) and unitary excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) was found to induce changes in EPSPs. Their average amplitudes were differentially up- or down-regulated, depending on the precise timing of postsynaptic APs relative to EPSPs. These observations suggest that APs propagating back into dendrites serve to modify single active synaptic connections, depending on the pattern of electrical activity in the pre- and postsynaptic neurons.
Markram
H
H
Max-Planck-Institut für Medizinische Forschung, Abteilung Zellphysiologie, Jahnstrasse 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. bnmark@weizmann.weizmann.ac.il
Lübke
J
J
Frotscher
M
M
Sakmann
B
B
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D002118:Calcium