Neuromodulation, development and synaptic plasticity.

Discusses parallels in the mechanisms underlying use-dependent synaptic plasticity during development and long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in neocortical synapses. Neuromodulators, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, have also been implicated in regulating both developmental plasticity and LTP/LTD. There are many potential levels of interaction between neuromodulators and plasticity. Ion channels are substrates for modulation in many cell types. The authors discuss examples of modulation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+-dependent K+ channels and the consequences for neocortical pyramidal cell firing behaviour. At the time when developmental plasticity is most evident in rat cortex, the substrate for modulation is changing as the densities and relative proportions of various ion channels types are altered during ontogeny. The authors review examples of changes in K+ and Ca2+ channels and the consequence for modulation of neuronal activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)