PSY397H5 Lecture 8: Psy397 Lec8
Document Summary
Both ltp and ltd are associated with a calcium concentration increase in the post-synaptic terminal. Nmda is the first step in the ltp/ltd process coincidence detected. Calcium level changes are key to any synaptic plasticity changes whether positive or negative. Ampa receptors ltp induced without the nmda receptors generate a large calcium spike even without the calcium spike. Voltage gated calcium channel detects post synaptic depolarization and the 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 cascade of events- the release of calcium from stores inside the cell. So even if the 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.
