Role of long-term potentiation in mechanism of the conditioned learning

Abstract

The review analyzes the fundamental problem of study of the neuronal mechanisms underlying processes of learning and memory.
As a neuronal model of these phenomena there was considered one of the cellular phenomena that has characteristics similar
with those in the process of “memorizing”—such as the long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP is easily reproduced in certain synapses
of the central nervous system, specifically in synapses of hippocampus and amygdala. As the behavioral model of learning,
there was used the conditioned learning, in frames of which production of the context-dependent/independent conditioned reaction
was considered. Analysis of literature data showed that various stages of LTP produced on synapses of hippocampus or amygdala
can be comparable with certain phases of the process of learning. Based on the exposed material the authors conclude that
plastic changes of synapses of hippocampus and amygdala can represent the morphological substrate of some kinds of learning
and memory.

Key wordslong-term potentiation (LTP)–conditioned reflex–learning and memory