Summary
A lasting strengthening of synapses after repeated stimulation, a cellular basis for learning.
In depth
High-frequency stimulation produces enduring increases in synaptic strength, shown first by Bliss and Lømo in rabbit hippocampus (1973). Involves AMPA receptor insertion and structural changes. LTD is the opposite. Hebb's rule: cells that fire together wire together.
LTP has early and late phases; late LTP needs protein synthesis. LTP is input-specific and associative. It is a leading model of learning.
Key idea: strengthened synapses store information.
LTP is the leading model for memory storage at the cellular level, and follows Hebb's idea (1949) that cells that fire together wire together. Bliss and Lomo's 1973 discovery in the rabbit hippocampus (perforant path to dentate gyrus) was followed by studies in the CA1 slice. Properties: input specificity, cooperativity and associativity, and persistence for hours to months. Early LTP depends on kinases (CaMKII) that phosphorylate and insert AMPA receptors; late LTP needs protein synthesis and gene expression (CREB). LTD is the opposite and arises from low-frequency stimulation.
Evidence linking LTP to memory comes from blocking NMDA receptors, which impairs learning in the water maze (Morris), and from genetically engineered mice (Tonegawa). Optogenetics can erase or recover memory traces (engrams).
Frequently asked questions
What is Long-Term Potentiation?
A lasting strengthening of synapses after repeated stimulation, a cellular basis for learning.
Which area of biology covers Long-Term Potentiation, and how advanced is it?
Long-Term Potentiation is one of the 54 topics in Neuroscience. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation, Learning and Memory Basics, Synaptic Plasticity.
Why does Long-Term Potentiation matter?
LTP shows how experience changes synaptic strength.
Can you give an example of Long-Term Potentiation?
Blocking NMDA receptors impairs spatial learning in rats.
What should I learn before Long-Term Potentiation?
Work through the Beginner topics in Neuroscience first, such as Nervous System, Neuron, Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems, then return to Long-Term Potentiation. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Long-Term Potentiation?
The closest topics to Long-Term Potentiation are Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation, Learning and Memory Basics, Synaptic Plasticity, Neuropharmacology. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Long-Term Potentiation?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Long-Term Potentiation. To practise the whole of Neuroscience, use the Neuroscience quiz.
How is Long-Term Potentiation different from Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation?
Long-Term Potentiation: A lasting strengthening of synapses after repeated stimulation, a cellular basis for learning. Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation: The hippocampus encodes new episodic memories and gradually transfers them to the cortex during sleep. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Long-Term Potentiation step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Hippocampus and Memory Consolidation and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Neuroscience quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.