synaptic plasticity

• synaptic plasticity?

  brain's ability to strengthen/weaken connections, essential for learning and memory through neural adaptability.
• structural changes of synaptic plasticity?

  • sprouting
  • pruning
  • change in the number of receptors on a post synaptic neuron
• functional changes of synaptic plasticity?

  • changes in the ability of the post-synaptic neuron to be excited by neurotransmitters
  • changed to the amount of neurotransmitters released by presynaptic neurons
• long-term potentiation?

  the long-lasting strengthening in neural connections at the synapse as a result of repeated stimulation (coactivation) between the presynaptic to postsynaptic neuron during learning and memory formation

  
  

  OCCURS IN HIPPOCAMPUS

  INCREASED GLUTAMATE IS PRODUCED AND RELEASED BY PRESYNAPTIC NEURON
• sprouting?

  the growth of additional branches on axons or dendrites to enable new connections.
• re-routing?

  occurs when an undamaged neuron that has lost a connection with a neighbouring neuron & forms a connection with a different neuron.

  
  

  COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF A FUNCTION
• long-term depression?

  change to the connection between neurons that results in a long- lasting reduction in the strength of a neural response due to persistent weak stimulation.
• dendrites?

  an extension of a neuron that detects & receives info from other neurons
• receptor sites?

  these are locations on the end of the dendritic spines that receive the chemical form of the neural message (neurotransmitters) before it is sent to the soma (cell body)
• axon?

  a single, tubelike extension that transmits neural information to other neurons
• axon terminals?

  the location where the neurotransmitter is released into the synapse
• synaptic vesicle?

  the sacs in the Axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters.
• synaptic gap/cleft?

  the space between the neurons.
• synapse?

  the area that contains the presynaptic axon terminal + the synaptic gap + the post synaptic dendrite.
• synaptic pruning?


  eliminating weaker or redundant synapses to refine neural circuits to enhance efficiency