A computational model for the associative long-term potentiation

Abstract

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) is the modification of synaptic strength produced by a train of conditioning stimuli. The associative nature of LTP has been observed experimentally delivering conditioning stimuli to two different pathways, a strong one and a weak one, converging on the same dendritic area of a given neuron. However, there is not yet sufficient information to have a clear model of the biophysical processes involved. We present a computational model, consistent with experimental data, that uses the retrograde messengers hypothesis. Using this model, it is possible to propose a reasonable interpretation of experiments and the possible roles of retrograde messengers in associative LTP.<>