What does the term synaptic plasticity mean?

Synaptic plasticity specifically refers to the activity-dependent modification of the strength or efficacy of synaptic transmission at preexisting synapses, and for over a century has been proposed to play a central role in the capacity of the brain to incorporate transient experiences into persistent memory traces.

What is synaptic plasticity quizlet?

is the ability of the connection, or synapse, between two neurons to change in strength in response to, either use or disuse of transmission over synaptic pathways. Plastic change also results from the alteration of the number of receptors located on a synapse.

What are the two types of synaptic plasticity?

There are two general forms of synaptic plasticity, intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic mechanisms, also known as homosynaptic mechanisms, refer to changes in the strength of a synapse that are brought about by its own activity.

Is synaptic plasticity the same as neuroplasticity?

Synaptic plasticity is essentially the process of neuroplasticity occurring at the single-cell level. It is the modification of neural circuitry through the malleability of the individual synapse.

What is synaptic plasticity in the amygdala?

It is believed that synaptic plasticity within the amygdala is the cellular basis of fear memory. At synaptic level, fear conditioning also triggers plastic changes within the cortical areas immediately after the condition.

What determines synaptic plasticity?

In neuroscience, synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity. Synaptic plasticity in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses has been found to be dependent upon postsynaptic calcium release.

How is neurotransmitter action terminated?

The activity of some neurotransmitters is terminated by degradation by an enzyme that is in the synaptic cleft. A enzyme binds to the neurotransmitter and breaks it apart so that the neurotransmitter can no longer fit into a receptor on the receiving cell.

What is an example of structural synaptic plasticity?

By including structural plasticity, for example, through pruning the unused silent synapses after learning in a network with high connectivity (Figure ​1C), the total synaptic capacity of the Willshaw model can even increase to Ctot ~ log n ≫ 1 bit per (non-silent) synapse, depending on the fraction p1 of potentiated …

What are the types of plasticity?

There are two main types of neuroplasticity: Functional plasticity: The brain’s ability to move functions from a damaged area of the brain to other undamaged areas. Structural plasticity: The brain’s ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning.

How is serotonin removed from synaptic?

Like the other monoamines, serotonin is transported back into the presynaptic terminal via the serotonin transporter (SERT). Serotonin action is terminated by reuptake into the presynaptic terminal via SERT. Serotonin is then either degraded by MAO or repackaged into synaptic vesicles.