Direct current stimulation modulates LTP and LTD: activity dependence and dendritic effects

Abstract

Background-Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to improve various forms of learning in humans. Stimulation is often applied during training, producing lasting enhancements that are specific to the learned task. These learning effects are thought be mediated by altered synaptic plasticity. However, the effects of DCS during the induction of endogenous synaptic plasticity remain largely unexplored.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Ameliorate Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment

“…The task-dependency relates to the fact that tDCS is believed to induce subthreshold changes in the neuronal resting membrane thresholds [ 94 , 95 ]. However, neuroplastic changes associated with tDCS are thought to be induced via Hebbian principles of neuronal activation (i.e., “neurons that fire together wire together”) and are dependent on the presence of recurrent, organized firing of relevant neuronal pathways [ 96 , 97 , 98 ]. By this account, the mechanistic goal of tDCS is to modulate existing patterns of neuronal firing in order to further strengthen or weaken those firing patterns.…”

Long‐term depression induction and maintenance across regions of the apical branch of CA1 dendrites

“…Long‐term depression (LTD) and long‐term potentiation (LTP) are properties of a synapse or synapse population of a neuron. These are observed in a restricted, “artificial” circuit activated by tetanization, which serves to investigate mechanisms of synaptic plasticity (Kronberg et al, 2017). Several studies have been performed focusing on the properties of LTP induction and its effect on the memory consolidation process in the brain (Camera et al, 2016; Kronberg et al, 2017; Lisman et al, 2018; Qi et al, 2016).…”

“…These are observed in a restricted, “artificial” circuit activated by tetanization, which serves to investigate mechanisms of synaptic plasticity (Kronberg et al, 2017). Several studies have been performed focusing on the properties of LTP induction and its effect on the memory consolidation process in the brain (Camera et al, 2016; Kronberg et al, 2017; Lisman et al, 2018; Qi et al, 2016). However, there is a dearth of scientific literature regarding the functionalities of LTD induction.…”