Synaptic plasticity is the cellular basis of learning and memory, but to what extent this holds for the adult human brain is not known. To study synaptic plasticity in human neuronal circuits poses a huge challenge, since live human neurons and synapses are not readily accessible. Despite this, various lines of research have provided insights in properties of adult human synapses and their plasticity both in vitro and in vivo, with some unexpected surprises. We first discuss the experimental approaches to study activity-dependent plasticity of adult human synapses, and then highlight rules and mechanisms of Hebbian spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) found in these synapses. Finally, we conclude with thoughts on how these synaptic principles can underlie human learning and memory.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2018.06.013 | DOI Listing |
Neuroscience
January 2025
Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur St, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:
Our previous in silico data indicated an overrepresentation of the ZF5 motif in the promoters of genes in which circadian oscillations are altered in the ventral hippocampus in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy in mice. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the Zbtb14 protein oscillates in the hippocampus in a diurnal manner and that this oscillation is disrupted by epilepsy. We found that Zbtb14 immunostaining is present in the cytoplasm and cell nuclei.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChaos
January 2025
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin, Dublin 4 D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Synaptic plasticity plays a fundamental role in neuronal dynamics, governing how connections between neurons evolve in response to experience. In this study, we extend a network model of θ-neuron oscillators to include a realistic form of adaptive plasticity. In place of the less tractable spike-timing-dependent plasticity, we employ recently validated phase-difference-dependent plasticity rules, which adjust coupling strengths based on the relative phases of θ-neuron oscillators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurochem Res
January 2025
Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline. Despite extensive research, therapeutic options remain limited. Varenicline, an αβ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, shows promise in enhancing cognitive function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElife
January 2025
Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A dysfunctional signaling pathway in the hippocampus has been linked to chronic pain-related memory impairment in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGamma oscillations are disrupted in various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD mouse models, non-invasive audiovisual stimulation (AuViS) at 40 Hz enhances gamma oscillations, clears amyloid-beta, and improves cognition. We investigated mechanisms of circuit remodeling underlying these restorative effects by leveraging the sensitivity of hippocampal neurogenesis to activity in middle-aged wild-type mice.
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