title: Do NMDA receptor kinetics regulate the end of critical periods of plasticity?
abstract: Increasing NR2A subunit expression and the associated shortening of the NMDA-EPSC are thought to underlie the loss of diverse types of sensory cortical plasticity. Lu and colleagues (Lu et al., 2001 [this issue of Neuron]) now report that mice lacking the NR2A subunit display normal duration of critical periods of barrel cortex plasticity. Shortening of the NMDA-EPSC is therefore not responsible for the end of these critical periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mower
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ramoa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003423:Critical Period, Psychological; D007700:Kinetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate