long-term potentiation

noun

: a long-lasting strengthening of the response of a postsynaptic nerve cell to stimulation across the synapse that occurs with repeated stimulation and is thought to be related to learning and long-term memory
abbreviation LTP

Examples of long-term potentiation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Memory formation involves a process called long-term potentiation (LTP), which is essentially the strengthening of synaptic connections between nerve cells. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2012 In the 1990s, Malenka and Nicoll were at the center of the race to unravel the precise chemical processes underlying this phenomenon, known as long-term potentiation (LTP). Adam Piore, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2015 Memory formation involves a process called long-term potentiation (LTP) which is essentially the strengthening of synaptic connections between nerve cells. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2011 One way that scientists think that happens is through something called long-term potentiation. Megan Molteni, STAT, 15 Nov. 2021 The downside is that long-term potentiation is not the only mechanism by which our brains store information. Megan Molteni, STAT, 15 Nov. 2021 Sleep appears to be important for long-term potentiation, a strengthening of signals between neurons that is widely regarded as a mechanism of learning and memory. Steven C. Pan, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2016 One, called long-term potentiation, consists of individual nerves modifying themselves to grow and talk to their neighboring nerves differently. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 4 Mar. 2019 All animals that have long-term memories use this same basic cellular machinery; scientists worked out the details of long-term potentiation by studying California sea slugs. Michael Greshko, National Geographic, 4 Mar. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'long-term potentiation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of long-term potentiation was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near long-term potentiation

Cite this Entry

“Long-term potentiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-term%20potentiation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

long-term potentiation

noun
: a long-lasting strengthening of the response of a postsynaptic nerve cell to stimulation across the synapse that occurs with repeated stimulation and is thought to be related to learning and long-term memory
First they repeatedly stimulated hippocampal neurons with an electric current and showed that long-term potentiation had taken place: the neurons were more sensitive to later stimulation, even an hour or more later, and more likely to transmit electric signals to their neighbors.Discover
abbreviation LTP
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!