Cited by 285Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsNeural dynamics and brain function

Theta-burst LTP

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Larson, John, Munkácsy, Erin·2015·Brain Research

Abstract

This review covers the spatial and temporal rules governing induction of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) by theta-burst stimulation. Induction of LTP in field CA1 by high frequency stimulation bursts that resemble the burst discharges (complex-spikes) of hippocampal pyramidal neurons involves a multiple-step mechanism. A single burst is insufficient for LTP induction because it evokes both excitatory and inhibitory currents that partially cancel and limit postsynaptic depolarization. Bursts repeated at the frequency (~5 Hz) of the endogenous theta rhythm induce maximal LTP, primarily because this frequency disables feed-forward inhibition and allows sufficient postsynaptic depolarization to activate voltage-sensitive NMDA receptors. The disinhibitory process, referred to as "priming", involves presynaptic GABA autoreceptors that inhibit GABA release. Activation of NMDA receptors allows a calcium flux into dendritic spines that serves as the proximal trigger for LTP. We include new data showing that theta-burst stimulation is more efficient than other forms of stimulation for LTP induction. In addition, we demonstrate that associative interactions between synapses activated during theta-bursts are limited to major dendritic domains since such interactions occur within apical or basal dendritic trees but not between them. We review evidence that recordings of electrophysiological responses during theta burst stimulation can help to determine if experimental manipulations that affect LTP do so by affecting events antecedent to the induction process, such as NMDA receptor activation, or downstream signaling cascades that result from postsynaptic calcium fluxes. Finally, we argue that theta-burst LTP represents a minimal model for stable, non-decremental LTP that is more sensitive to a variety of experimental manipulations than is LTP induced by other stimulation paradigms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Brain and Memory.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.10.034

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  • In iTBS, 50 Hz triplets are applied at a theta rhythm of 5 Hz, which is thought to facilitate long-term potentiation in less time and with fewer pulses than standard TMS, which generally is administered at 5 to 10 Hz.

    “In iTBS, 50 Hz triplets are applied at a theta rhythm (5 Hz), which is thought to facilitate long-term potentiation in less time and with fewer pulses than standard TMS, which generally is administered at 5 to 10 Hz [57].”

    From Frontal Pole Neuromodulation for Impulsivity and Suicidality in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Common Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (2024) · cites this paper as [57]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes theta bursts repeated at 5 Hz for LTP induction, and ‘Economy’ of Theta-Burst Stimulation (page unavailable) reports that theta bursts induced LTP with fewer pulses than unpatterned stimulation. The experiments described used four-pulse bursts at 100 Hz in hippocampal tissue; these passages do not establish the 50 Hz triplets of iTBS, a shorter administration time, or a comparison with standard TMS administered at 5–10 Hz. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Bliss TV Lomo T Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area of the anaesthetized rabbit following stimulation of the perforant path J Physiol 1973 232 331 356 4727084 PMC1350458
  2. Larson J Ambros-Ingerson J Lynch G Baudry M Davis JL Sites and mechanisms for expression of long-term potentiation In: Long-Term Potentiation: A Debate of Current Issues 1991 Cambridge, MA MIT Press 121 139 Vol
  3. Mott DD Lewis DV Facilitation of the induction of long-term potentiation by GABAB receptors Science 1991 252 1718 1720 1675489

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Authors
Larson, J., & Munkácsy, E.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
Larson, John
Venue
Brain Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-09
Volume
1621
Pages
38-50
ISSN
0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1974528572
Cited by
285
References
110
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 4
FWCI
1.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Research (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (DC005793, T32 AG021890)
  • Department of Defense (USAMRMC 10917352)
  • UIC Honors College, UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Glenn Foundation for Medical Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
theta burst stimulation, long-term potentiation, hippocampus, CA1, feedforward inhibition, disinhibition, NMDA receptor, dendritic calcium signaling, dendritic domains, synaptic plasticity
MeSH terms
Animals, Electric Stimulation, Hippocampus, Humans, Membrane Potentials, Synapses, Long-Term Potentiation, Pyramidal Cells

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