PSYCH 212 Lecture 17: Lecture 17 Notes
10 Mar 2017
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Enriched environments most strongly modulate basal dendrites environment has less of an effect on apical dendrites. Presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons that repeatedly activate together form a stronger and more stable synaptic connection. Hebbian synapse - a synapse that is strengthened when it successfully drives the postsynaptic cell. Cells that re together wire together long term potentiation (ltp) - stable and enduring increase in the effectiveness of synapses following repeated string stimulation. Ltp occurs in hippocampus and other brain regions most studied form of ltp occurs at synapses that use the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Ltp is critically dependent on a glutamate receptor subtype called the nmda receptor. Treatment with drugs that block nmda receptors prevent new ltp but it does not affect synaptic changes that have already been established. Ampa receptors are fast acting ionotropic receptors that are also involved in ltp.
