Long-term depression
Long-term depression (LTD)
Long-term depression (LTD) is a process that occurs in the brain which results in the decrease of synaptic strength. It is the opposite of Long-term potentiation (LTP), which involves an increase in synaptic strength. The pronunciation of the term is /ˈlɔːŋ tɜːrm dɪˈprɛʃən/.
Etymology
The term "long-term depression" is derived from the duration of the process (long-term) and the result of the process (depression of synaptic strength). The term was first used in neuroscience in the late 20th century.
Mechanism
Long-term depression occurs when a neuron receives a low-frequency stimulation, which results in a decrease in the effectiveness of its synapses. This is thought to be due to a decrease in the number of glutamate receptors in the post-synaptic neuron, which reduces the neuron's sensitivity to neurotransmitters.
Role in Learning and Memory
Long-term depression, along with Long-term potentiation, plays a crucial role in learning and memory. It is thought that the strengthening and weakening of synapses through these processes allows for the formation of new memories and the modification of old ones.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Long-term depression
- Wikipedia's article - Long-term depression
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski