Lecture 1.3: Neural Communication and Plasticity

Question 1

The discovery of synapses can be first attributed to

Answer 1

Charles Sherrington

Question 2

True or false:

Approximately half of the synapses are electrical in nature

Answer 2

False, less than 1% of synapses are electrical

Question 3

True or false:

In LTP, surrounding synapses can be strengthened when the activated synapse is in close proximity.

Answer 3

False, specificity of long-term potentiation states that only the synapse/s involved is/are strengthened.

Question 4

True or false:

Electrical synapses can be inhibitory or excitatory.

Answer 4

False, excitation is the only effect they can have on a cell.

Question 5

Role of protein synthesis in maintaining LTP

Answer 5

Inhibition of protein synthesis causes rapid decay of LTP over a period of time. In a normal control, the LTP is maintained.