Direct current stimulation boosts hebbian plasticity in vitro.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is evidence that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve learning performance. Arguably, this effect is related to long term potentiation (LTP), but the precise biophysical mechanisms remain unknown.

Hypothesis

We propose that direct current stimulation (DCS) causes small changes in postsynaptic membrane potential during ongoing endogenous synaptic activity. The altered voltage dynamics in the postsynaptic neuron then modify synaptic strength via the machinery of endogenous voltage-dependent Hebbian plasticity. This hypothesis predicts that DCS should exhibit Hebbian properties, namely pathway specificity and associativity.

Methods

We studied the effects of DCS applied during the induction of LTP in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal

SUBMITTER: Kronberg G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6989352 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar - Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature