2d Synaptic Plasticity

• Synaptic plasticity results from long-term potentiation and long-term depression, modifying connections between neurons through sprouting, rerouting, and pruning, as the fundamental mechanism of memory formation leading to learning
• Synaptic plasticity involves specific changes within the synapse between neurons due to repeated stimulation or lack of it, leading to the formation of relatively permanent connections between neurons
• Long-term potentiation (LTP) is the strengthening of synaptic connections through repeated activation of a neural pathway, involving the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter Glutamate
• Long-term depression (LTD) is the weakening of synaptic connections due to lower levels of activity in a neural pathway, allowing the brain to reduce or 'prune' neural connections that are no longer useful
• Sprouting in synaptic plasticity refers to the growth of axon and/or dendrite fibers at the synapse, changing the physical structure of neurons by forming additional synapses where dendritic spines and axon branches meet
• Rerouting involves the formation of new connections between neurons to establish alternative neural pathways, often occurring in damaged areas of the brain or after learning new ways of doing things
• Pruning is the removal of excess neurons and synaptic connections to increase the efficiency of neural transmission, allowing the brain to fine-tune its neural networks for more efficiency