Use of brain slices to study long-term potentiation and depression as examples of synaptic plasticity

Brain slices have been responsible for the majority of advances in our unde rstanding of the cellular aspects of altered synaptic strength underlying m emory, long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), and inc reases and decreases, respectively, in synaptic strength at glutamatergic s ynapses, Our current understanding of LTP and LTD has come largely from stu dies in hippocampal slices. We consider the strengths and limitations of br ain slice technology applied to this subject and conclude that they will co ntinue to have an important role in future studies into the cellular machin ery underlying changes in synaptic strength, (C) 1999 Academic Press.