Synaptic Plasticity and Neurological Disorders in Neurotropic Viral Infections

Figure 1

(a) Synapse prior to long term potentiation: NMDA and AMPA are two types of receptors at the postsynaptic neuron, for the neurotransmitter glutamate. NMDA receptors open in response to glutamate prior to potentiation. However, they are blocked by Mg²⁺. (b) Establishing LTP: NMDA receptors release Mg²⁺ after depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane in response to the activity. Na⁺ and Ca⁺ travel inside and induce the migration of internal AMPA receptors to the membrane. (c) Synapse exhibiting LTP: NMDA receptors are unblocked when depolarization is triggered by AMPA receptors. These two receptors are now responsible for action potentials.