Restless AMPA receptors: implications for synaptic transmission and plasticity

A central assumption in neurobiology holds that changes in the strength of individual synapses underlie changes in behavior. This concept is widely ac cepted in the case of learning and memory where LTP and LTD are the most co mpelling cellular models. It is therefore of great interest to understand, on a molecular level, how the brain regulates the strength of neuronal conn ections. We review a large body of evidence in support of the very straight forward regulation of synaptic strength by changing the number of postsynap tic receptors, and discuss the molecular machinery required for insertion a nd removal of AMPA receptors.