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long-term potentiation

noun

Definition of long-term potentiation

: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

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First Known Use of long-term potentiation

1969

Medical Dictionary

long-term potentiation

noun

medical Definition of long-term potentiation

: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,  June 1995
—abbreviation LTP

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