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LTP involves interactions between postsynaptic neurons and the specific presynaptic inputs that form a synaptic association, and is specific to the stimulated pathway of synaptic transmission. The long-term stabilization of synaptic changes is determined by a parallel increase of pre- and postsynaptic structures such as axonal bouton ...
Postsynaptic potentials are changes in the membrane potential of the postsynaptic terminal of a chemical synapse. Postsynaptic potentials are graded potentials , and should not be confused with action potentials although their function is to initiate or inhibit action potentials.
Both the presynaptic and postsynaptic sites contain extensive arrays of molecular machinery that link the two membranes together and carry out the signaling process. In many synapses, the presynaptic part is located on the terminals of axons and the postsynaptic part is located on a dendrite or soma .
Synaptic plasticity is typically input-specific, meaning that the activity of a postsynaptic neuron, is altered by a neuron or neurons' release of neurotransmitters, transmitting a stimuli. In homosynaptic plasticity , only the input from a presynaptic neuron synapsing with a specific postsynaptic neuron creates plasticity.
When the presynaptic terminal is electrically stimulated, an array of molecules embedded in the membrane are activated, and cause the contents of the vesicles to be released into the narrow space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes, called the synaptic cleft.
Homosynaptic plasticity can also be postsynaptic in nature. It can result in either an increase or decrease in synaptic strength. One example is neurons of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which release noradrenaline , which, besides affecting postsynaptic receptors, also affects presynaptic α2-adrenergic receptors , inhibiting further ...
Synaptic potentials, unlike action potentials, degrade quickly as they move away from the synapse. This is the case for both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Synaptic potentials are not static. The concept of synaptic plasticity refers to the changes in synaptic potential. [6]
A diagram of the proteins found in the active zone. The active zone is present in all chemical synapses examined so far and is present in all animal species. The active zones examined so far have at least two features in common, they all have protein dense material that project from the membrane and tethers synaptic vesicles close to the membrane and they have long filamentous projections ...