Selective reduction of weak synaptic activity awakens dormant synapses.
Slutsky et al. (this issue of Neuron) report that by selectively filtering out low-level uncorrelated synaptic activity at NMDA receptors in hippocampal cultures they can unlock a large reserve of quiescent synapses and make them available for potentiation with theta burst stimulation. These findings differ from previously reported activity-dependent mechanisms in that inactivity does not necessarily increase synaptic activity globally.
Awatramani
Gautam
G
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 4835-2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Murphy
Timothy H
TH
D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate