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。这一假设取决于生理刺激可以在体内诱导LTP并且LTP与行为变化相关的假设。然而，可修改的突触通常深埋在复杂的电路中。相比之下，金鱼的Mauthner（M）细胞很容易接近，并在突然刺激时引发快速逃避行为。在这里，我报告说，重复的声音刺激诱导LTP的前馈抑制，控制M细胞的兴奋性。此外，这种增强的抑制性传输，让人想起传入强直诱发的LTP，是由于M细胞放电引起的适应性逃避反应的概率延长下降而引起的。

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.