Emerging roles of metaplasticity in behaviour and disease

Trends Neurosci. 2013 Jun;36(6):353-62. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2013.03.007. Epub 2013 Apr 17.

Abstract

Since its initial conceptualisation, metaplasticity has come to encompass a wide variety of phenomena and mechanisms, creating the important challenge of understanding how they contribute to network function and behaviour. Here, we present a framework for considering potential roles of metaplasticity across three domains of function. First, metaplasticity appears ideally placed to prepare for subsequent learning by either enhancing learning ability generally or by preparing neuronal networks to encode specific content. Second, metaplasticity can homeostatically regulate synaptic plasticity, and this likely has important behavioural consequences by stabilising synaptic weights while ensuring the ongoing availability of synaptic plasticity. Finally, we discuss emerging evidence that metaplasticity mechanisms may play a role in disease causally and may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior / physiology*
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Cognition Disorders / therapy
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Glutamic Acid / physiology
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Memantine / pharmacology
  • Memantine / therapeutic use
  • Memory / physiology
  • Mice
  • Models, Neurological
  • Models, Psychological
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / therapy
  • Neuronal Plasticity / genetics
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Nootropic Agents / pharmacology
  • Nootropic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate / physiology
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Stroke / psychology
  • Stroke / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Memantine