The Mechanisms and Functions of Synaptic Facilitation

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 447 - 464
• Main Authors: Jackman, Skyler L., Regehr, Wade G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 03-05-2017; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Action Potentials; active zone; Animals; Calcium - metabolism; calcium channel; Exocytosis; facilitation; Information processing; Molecular modelling; Neuromuscular Junction - metabolism; Neuromuscular Junction - physiology; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - physiology; neurotransmitter release; Plastic properties; Purkinje Cells - metabolism; Purkinje Cells - physiology; release probability; Rodents; Roles; Short term; synapse; Synapses - metabolism; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptic Transmission; synaptic vesicle; Synaptic Vesicles - metabolism; synaptotagmin; Transmitters; calcium channel; active zone; exocytosis; synapse; synaptic plasticity; facilitation; synaptotagmin; neurotransmitter release; release probability; synaptic vesicle
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.02.047

The ability of the brain to store and process information relies on changing the strength of connections between neurons. Synaptic facilitation is a form of short-term plasticity that enhances synaptic transmission for less than a second. Facilitation is a ubiquitous phenomenon thought to play critical roles in information transfer and neural processing. Yet our understanding of the function of facilitation remains largely theoretical. Here we review proposed roles for facilitation and discuss how recent progress in uncovering the underlying molecular mechanisms could enable experiments that elucidate how facilitation, and short-term plasticity in general, contributes to circuit function and animal behavior.
Short-term facilitation dynamically strengthens synapses to regulate information transfer through neural circuits. Jackman and Regehr review recent advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying facilitation, which could ultimately clarify the functional and behavioral roles of this widespread form of short-term plasticity.