The BCM Theory and the Molecular Implementation of Metaplasticity The Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro theory provides a theoretical framework for understanding how a synapse’s history of activity governs its future plasticity, a concept known as metaplasticity. It posits a sliding threshold, θM, which determines whether synaptic activity will induce long-term potentiation or long-term depression. This dynamic threshold is […]

The NMDA Receptor as a Coincidence Detector: A Deep Dive into Hebbian Plasticity The foundational model for activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is Hebb’s postulate, which finds its primary molecular mechanism in the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. This ligand-gated ion channel is unique in its requirement for dual activation: binding of the neurotransmitter glutamate and the simultaneous relief […]