title: Discrete synaptic states define a major mechanism of synapse plasticity.
abstract: Synapses can change their strength in response to afferent activity, a property that might underlie a variety of neural processes such as learning, network synaptic weighting, synapse formation and pruning. Recent work has shown that synapses change their strength by jumping between discrete mechanistic states, rather than by simply moving up and down in a continuum of efficacy. Coincident with this, studies have provided a framework for understanding the potential mechanistic underpinnings of synaptic plastic states. Synaptic plasticity states not only represent a new and fundamental property of CNS synapses, but also can provide a context for understanding outstanding issues in synaptic function, plasticity and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Daniel V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Madison
mesh_terms: D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins