Synaptic Function & Plasticity
Vital to all of the areas of research at the Centre is the study of synaptic function and plasticity, which is an area that has grown considerably.
What is a synapse?
What is synaptic plasticity?
What advances have the Brain Research Centre made?
Where do we go from here?
Would you like to learn more about synaptic function and plasticity?
Who researches synaptic function and plasticity?
Would you like to support synaptic function and plasticity research?
What is a synapse?
The human brain is composed of billions of nerve cells which communicate through specialized connections called synapses. At each synapse, a chemical neurotransmitter is released from one cell and binds to receptors on another cell. This chemical transmission generates electrical and biochemical signals in the second cell that are then passed along to a network of nerve cells. Thus, a synapse is the basic unit of communication in the brain, and research on synaptic function is central to understanding how we think and learn. Building the correct network of synapses is essential for brain development, and understanding how those synapses go awry is key to many neurological disorders.
What is synaptic plasticity?
Most neuroscientists believe that learning and memory occurs by changing the strength of synaptic connections. Elimination of some synapses and building new connections also contribute. Thus, synaptic plasticity refers to changes in the function of synapses. For example, in order to store memories, long-lasting changes in synaptic strength occur, involving changes in chemical composition and structure. Genomics has uncovered key chemical players in this process, and powerful imaging tools are revealing dynamic changes in synapses that may underlie learning and behaviour. Because neurological disorders and trauma cause unwanted changes in synapses that can spread through a cellular network, it is important to understand how synapses change in order to treat and prevent these disorders.
What advances have the Brain Research Centre made?
The Brain Research Centre is leading the way in discoveries in basic neuroscience which is shaping the field and forging new ground around the world. For example, work from the lab of the late Dr. Alaa El-Husseini has shown that neuroligins, molecules that promote synapse formation, are critical for determining the balance of different chemical types of synapses. Mutations in the neuroligin gene family have recently been identified in patients with autism and mental retardation, and Dr. El-Husseini’s results provide hope for these patients. Another recent breakthrough came from a collaboration between the teams of Dr. Yu Tian Wang and Dr. Anthony Phillips. Fundamental mechanisms that regulate synaptic strength lead to a new molecular treatment for behavioral sensitization, renewing hope for overcoming drug addiction.
Where do we go from here?
We continue to recruit new faculty, and the Centre is now home to a growing and formidable cadre of experts on all aspects of basic neuroscience. We have several Canada Research Chairs in this area who work together with our other investigators to understand the complex mechanisms underlying synaptic function and plasticity. Our collaborative research environment means that new developments in basic neuroscience can be easily and quickly applied to the study of specific brain diseases in the most efficient manner possible.
Would you like to learn more about synaptic function and plasticity?
Download a two-page summary on synaptic function and plasticity and learn more about this fascinating area of research.
Who researches synaptic function and plasticity?
Douglas Allan, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Vanessa Auld, PhD Department of Zoology
Kenneth G. Baimbridge, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Shernaz Bamji, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Brian R. Christie, MSc, PhD Department of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria
John Church, MB, ChB, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Ann Marie Craig, PhD Department of Psychiatry
Kurt Haas, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Christopher Loewen, PhD Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences
Brian MacVicar, PhD Department of Psychiatry
Timothy H. Murphy, PhD Division of Neurological Sciences, Department of Psychiatry
Anthony G. Phillips, MA, PhD Department of Psychology
Peter Soja, PhD Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Yu Tian Wang, MD, PhD Department of Medicine
Would you like to support synaptic function and plasticity research?
The Brain Research Centre is committed to advancing our knowledge of the brain and to exploring new discoveries and technologies which have the potential to reduce the suffering and cost associated with disease and injuries of the brain. We invite you to help us deliver on this commitment.
