ACTIVITY-DEPENDENT PLASTICITY IN ADULT SOMATIC SENSORY CORTEX

Plasticity in somatic sensory cortex refers to the ability of cells to change their response to sensory inputs. Typically changes depend upo n activity-induced modifications of synaptic strength. Increasing or d ecreasing synaptic strength is orchestrated through changes in transmi tter release from axon terminals, in glutamate receptor properties, in postsynaptic cell depolarization, and in calcium activation of a casc ade of intracellular events. Synaptic changes in cortex are facilitate d by the level of cortical excitability and modulatory transmitters th at create the background for activity arriving over sensory pathways. Ongoing activity initiated by peripheral receptors creates the pattern s of activity in cortex that map the activity-dependent representation of the body onto cortex. (C) 1997 Academic Press.