1997
Silent Synapses during Development of Thalamocortical Inputs
Isaac J, Crair M, Nicoll R, Malenka R. Silent Synapses during Development of Thalamocortical Inputs. Neuron 1997, 18: 269-280. PMID: 9052797, DOI: 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80267-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term potentiationThalamocortical synapsesThalamocortical inputsSilent synapsesFunctional synapsesPostnatal day 8Rat somatosensory cortexActivity-dependent mechanismsActivity-dependent increaseEarly postnatal developmentSomatosensory cortexPostsynaptic activityTopographical projectionDay 8Postnatal developmentSynaptic connectionsSynaptic strengthSynapsesCortexSignificant proportionThalamusEarly developmentPotentiation
1995
A critical period for long-term potentiation at thalamocortical synapses
Crair M, Malenka R. A critical period for long-term potentiation at thalamocortical synapses. Nature 1995, 375: 325-328. PMID: 7753197, DOI: 10.1038/375325a0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term potentiationThalamocortical synapsesNMDA receptor-mediated synaptic currentsN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent long-term potentiationReceptor-mediated synaptic currentsCritical periodRat somatosensory cortexActivity-dependent processesSomatosensory cortexThalamic axonsCortical circuitryNormal connectivitySynaptic currentsTopographical projectionSynaptic connectionsWhisker barrelsLoss of susceptibilitySensory perturbationsLTPPotentiationCortexSynapsesNormal developmentCompelling evidenceLikely mechanism