Synaptic Plasticity

Growth factors in long-term potentiation result in the creation of new synapses. This results in synaptic plasticity.

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Proteins produced during long-term potentiation include:

- AMPA receptors
- Growth factors

Proteins Produced During the Late Phase of Long-Term Potentiation

This is the way that neurons are able to communicate with each other. There is a small area of space between the axon and the dendrite where the information is shared. This can be done through chemical or electrical synapses.

Synapse

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Growth Factors in Long-Term Potentiation

AMPA receptors are found on the postsynaptic neuron and are activated when glutamate binds to the neuron. AMPA receptors are permeable to sodium ions.

AMPA Receptors

A chemical synapse facilitates neuronal communication through the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. This process represents the chemical portion of the overall electrochemical signal, where neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic space to transmit information. This method is the most common type of synapse in the brain but is slower than an electrical synapse.

Chemical Synapse

An electrical synapse is a specialized connection where two neurons are physically linked by structures called gap junctions. These junctions contain channels that permit electrical current to pass directly from the presynaptic to the postsynaptic cell. This direct physical connection allows for extremely rapid, almost instantaneous, signal transmission between neurons.

Electrical Synapses

Short-term memory is the result of strengthening the preexisting proteins in the synapses. Contrastingly, long-term memory comes from the creation of new synaptic connections. In other words, long-term memory changes the anatomy of the brain, but short-term memory does not.   

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