title: Dendritic spikes induce single-burst long-term potentiation.
abstract: The hippocampus is essential for episodic memory, which requires single-trial learning. Although long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength is a candidate mechanism for learning, it is typically induced by using repeated synaptic activation to produce precisely timed, high-frequency, or rhythmic firing. Here we show that hippocampal synapses potentiate robustly in response to strong activation by a single burst. The induction mechanism of this single-burst LTP requires activation of NMDA receptors, L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, and dendritic spikes. Thus, dendritic spikes are a critical trigger for a form of LTP that is consistent with the function of the hippocampus in episodic memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spruston
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D053444:Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013569:Synapses