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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Long-term potentiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long-term%20potentiation. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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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
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