Long Term Potentiation as a Mechanism for Learning and Memory

Abstract

Since the 1970s when long term potentiation (LTP) was introduced to the scientific world;several studies have been devoted to determining whether this phenomenon is naturally abasic mechanism of learning and memory in mammalian brains. However, plenty of evidenceconfirms that a) LTP is inducible in the circuits involved in learning and memory; b) commonreceptors and intracellular cascades are recruited in both memory and synaptic plasticityand c) LTP and memory are similarly affected by many parameters such as: ligands, environmentalsignals, history of neuronal activity. Despite this, contradictory reports exist whichoppose the similarities between LTP and memory. In this paper we briefly introduce learning,memory and LTP, and argue relevant factors that possibly connect them. Ultimately, currentconsiderations lead one to conclude that the time is too early to judge clearly if LTP is a realmechanism of learning and memory.

Keywords

• Long Term Potentiation
• Learning
• Memory