Synaptic Plasticity - CH 8

Synaptic depression

short-term plasticity in which released NT-amounts decreases due to an activity-dependent deletion of synaptic vesicles ready to undergo exocytosis.

Synaptic facilitation

synaptic strength rapidly increasing once 2 or more APs enter the presynaptic terminal within short intervals ( <milliseconds)

Augmentation

A synaptic plasticity form caused by repeated synaptic activity. This form functions to increase the NT amount released by the presynaptic terminals. Will enhance Ca²⁺ ability to incite vesicle fusion

Post-tetanic potentiation (PTP)

The effects of potentiation last longer than the stimulus that preceded its stimulation

Habituation

A process by which an animal becomes less responsive to frequent stimulus probing

Sensitization

the process by which an animal responds with general aversive to a toxic-stimulus or non-toxic one

Short-term sensitization

Mediated by a serotonin-induced enhancement of glutamateq

Long-term sensitization

Str changes apparent; likely involves “new protein synthesis and growth of new synapse”