PSY344H5 Lecture 8: Psy397 Lec8
Document Summary
Both ltp and ltd are associated with a calcium concentration increase in the post- synaptic terminal. Calcium level changes are key to any synaptic plasticity changes whether positive or negative. Nmda is the first step in the ltp/ltd process coincidence detected. Ampa receptors ltp induced without the nmda receptors generate a large. Voltage gated calcium channel detects post synaptic depolarization and the calcium spike even without the calcium spike channel opens up and lets calcium in. Calcium does not alter the depolarization inside the synapse but it actually works as a messenger. It specifically binds to target molecules like kinases or phosphatases and alter their functioning. G-protein coupled glutamate receptors metabotropic receptors cause through a extracellular fluid doesn"t contain any calcium, the post synaptic terminal can still increase and release calcium levels and cause changes in the terminal due to the calcium stores. Any mechanism that alters the nmda receptor will have an important effect on ltp.
