Depotentiation

Professor Tom O'Dell defines depotentiation - the erasure of long-term potentiation (LTP) at the synapse.

Depotentiation is a particular type of synaptic plasticity that only occurs at a particular type of synapse – not so much a type of synapse, but a synapse that is in a particular state. So, certain patterns of activity at a synapse will cause the synapse to undergo potentiation, or enhancement, something called long term potentiation (LTP). Depotentiation is the opposite of that, it is the erasure of LTP at the synapse. The synapse now returns to its original state. The long term potentiation has been erased. That is the process we call depotentiation. Depotentiation involves dephosphorylation of the proteins at the synapse like the glutamate receptors that are normally responsible for the long term potentiation (LTP).

depotentiation, long, term, potentiation, plasticity, plastic, glutamate, tom, o'dell, dell

Related Content

1108. Synaptic Plasticity (1)

Professor Tom O'Dell discusses synaptic plasticity - the strengthening and weakening of synaptic connections between neurons.

  • ID: 1108
  • Source: G2C

1106. Phosphorylation and Synaptic Plasticity

Professor Tom O'Dell comments that phosphorylation plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity.

  • ID: 1106
  • Source: G2C

1109. NMDA Receptors, Multi-protein Complexes, & LTP

Professor Tom O'Dell describes the role played by NMDA receptors, as part of a large multi-protein complex, in facilitating long-term potentiation (LTP).

  • ID: 1109
  • Source: G2C

1283. Long-term Potentiation

Professor Eric Kandel introduces the concept of long-term potentiation, which refers to change in the strength of synaptic connections.

  • ID: 1283
  • Source: G2C

1111. Multiple Electrode Arrays

Professor Tom O'Dell explains how multiple electrode arrays are being used to study electrical activity in the brain.

  • ID: 1111
  • Source: G2C

1104. Electrophysiology - Techniques (1)

Professor Tom O'Dell describes different techniques for studying the physiology of the nervous system.

  • ID: 1104
  • Source: G2C

1105. Phosphorylation

Professor Tom O'Dell defines phosphorylation - the addition of a phosphate group to a protein molecule to regulate gene function.

  • ID: 1105
  • Source: G2C

1103. Electrophysiology in Research

Professor Tom O'Dell discusses the importance of electrophysiology to the study of cognition.

  • ID: 1103
  • Source: G2C

1110. Electrophysiology - Techniques (2)

Professor Tom O'Dell introduces some of the advanced techniques used to examine the electrical activity of brain cells.

  • ID: 1110
  • Source: G2C

2365. Fragile X Syndrome - A Cause and Cure?

Doctor Gul Dolen explains that Fragile X syndrome can be considered a disorder of plasticity, mediated by metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, and potentially treatable with pharmaceuticals.

  • ID: 2365
  • Source: G2C