Physiological and Behavioral Studies on a Link between LTP and Learning

突触传递的长时程增强(LTP)通常被认为是学习和记忆的细胞模型。这一假设依赖于以下假设，即生理刺激可以在体内诱导LTP，并且LTP与行为变化相关。相比之下，金鱼的Mauthner(M)细胞很容易接触到，并对突然刺激做出快速逃逸行为的反应。在这里，我报告了重复的声音刺激诱导前馈抑制的LTP，它控制着M细胞的兴奋性。此外，这种增强的抑制性传递，使人想起由传入强直刺激引起的LTP，同时伴随着由于M细胞激活而触发适应性逃逸反应的概率的延长。

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is often considered a cellular model for learning and memory. This hypothesis depends upon the assumptions that physiological stimuli can induce LTP in vivo and that the LTP correlates with behavioral changes. However, modifiable synapses are generally embedded deep in complex circuits. In contrast, the goldfish Mauthner (M)-cell is easily accessible and initates a fast escape behavior in response to sudden stimuli. Here I report that repeated sound stimuli induce LTP of the feedforward inhibition which controls M-cell excitability. Furthermore this enhanced inhibitory transmission, reminiscent of LTP evoked by afferent tetanization is paralleled by a prolonged decrease in the probability of triggering the adaptive escape response due to M-cell firing.