Synaptic AMPA receptor plasticity and behavior.
The ability to change behavior likely depends on the selective strengthening and weakening of brain synapses. The cellular models of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) of synaptic strength, can be expressed by the synaptic insertion or removal of AMPA receptors (AMPARs), respectively. We here present an overview of studies that have used animal models to show that such AMPAR trafficking underlies several experience-driven phenomena-from neuronal circuit formation to the modification of behavior. We argue that monitoring and manipulating synaptic AMPAR trafficking represents an attractive means to study cognitive function and dysfunction in animal models.
Kessels
Helmut W
HW
Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA. hkessels@ucsd.edu
Malinow
Roberto
R
D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D018091:Receptors, AMPA