Abstract
In this chapter I briefly review certain hoary issues in the study of synaptic plasticity. These comments may be generalized to the study of information storage in the nervous system, hopefully to provide some focus to discussion of these pervasive issues.
“These considerations suggest that the change must occur directly, not indirectly, at or near the synapse. It occurs just when or after the surface membrane on the two sides of the synaptic cleft has been disturbed (depolarized) and must involve both cells. This seems to suggest strongly that something passes between cell A and cell B, that this something can only pass through the two membranes when both have been recently disturbed, and that the “something” forms the basis of learning and memory. Let us call this “something” F. F passes between A and B and then alters the synapse, either by causing it to grow or atrophy or perhaps by affecting the enzyme-controlled production of transmitter. Which way does F pass? There are several reasons for thinking it more likely to be from B to A.”
Griffith, Nature. 1966, p. 1160
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Routtenberg, A. (1990). Trans-Synaptophobia. In: Ben-Ari, Y. (eds) Excitatory Amino Acids and Neuronal Plasticity. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 268. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5769-8_44
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