In search of general mechanisms for long-lasting plasticity: Aplysia and the hippocampus.
Long-term synaptic plasticity is thought to underlie many forms of long-lasting memory. Long-lasting plasticity has been most extensively studied in the marine snail Aplysia and in the mammalian hippocampus, where Bliss and Lømo first described long-term potentiation 30 years ago. The molecular mechanisms of plasticity in these two systems have proven to have many similarities. Here, we briefly describe some of these areas of overlap. We then summarize recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of long-lasting synaptic facilitation in Aplysia and suggest that these may prove fruitful areas for future investigation in the mammalian hippocampus and at other synapses in the mammalian brain.
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Christopher
C
Pittenger
Eric R
ER
Kandel
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins