Synaptic Plasticity and Memory Formation

Abstract

The goal of the project is to define the mechanisms responsible for inducing, expressing, and stabilizing long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP), a form of physiological plasticity that is likely to be responsible for the encoding of memory in telencephalic networks. Studies in the past year defined the cellular changes likely to be responsible for expressions. The nootropic ('cognitive enhancing') drug aniracetam prolongs the open time of post-synaptic receptors mediating fast synaptic transmission. LTP changes the effect of the drug on synaptic responses in hippocampus; manipulations that enhance responses by increasing release do not interact with the drug. By far the most plausible explanation of this result is that LTP modifies receptors. This conclusion is supported by negative results from experiments testing the hypotheses that LTP is due to changes in release, receptor number, or spine resistance.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 14, 1991
Accession Number
ADA240121

Entities

People

  • Gary Lynch

Organizations

  • University of California, Irvine

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Sciences
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hippocampus
  • Hypotheses
  • Inhibitors
  • Learning
  • Mathematical Models
  • Models
  • Proteins
  • Resistance
  • Synapses

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Neuroscience