Abstract
Recent electron microscopic studies provide evidence that the adult cortex generates new synapses in response to sensory activity and that these structural changes can occur rapidly, within 24 hr of sensory stimulation. Together with progress imaging synapses in vivo, the stage appears set for advances in understanding the dynamics and mechanisms of experience-dependent synaptogenesis.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Cerebral Cortex / growth & development*
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Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
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Cerebral Cortex / ultrastructure
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Dendrites / metabolism
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Dendrites / ultrastructure
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Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
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Humans
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Neural Inhibition / physiology
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Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
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Synapses / metabolism*
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Synapses / ultrastructure
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gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism