Cited by 847Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Structure-stability-function relationships of dendritic spines

Kasai, Haruo, Matsuzaki, Masanori, Noguchi, Jun, Yasumatsu, Nobuaki, Nakahara, Hiroyuki·2003·Trends in Neurosciences

Abstract

Dendritic spines, which receive most of the excitatory synaptic input in the cerebral cortex, are heterogeneous with regard to their structure, stability and function. Spines with large heads are stable, express large numbers of AMPA-type glutamate receptors, and contribute to strong synaptic connections. By contrast, spines with small heads are motile and unstable and contribute to weak or silent synaptic connections. Their structure-stability-function relationships suggest that large and small spines are "memory spines" and "learning spines", respectively. Given that turnover of glutamate receptors is rapid, spine structure and the underlying organization of the actin cytoskeleton are likely to be major determinants of fast synaptic transmission and, therefore, are likely to provide a physical basis for memory in cortical neuronal networks. Characterization of supramolecular complexes responsible for synaptic memory and learning is key to the understanding of brain function and disease.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0166-2236(03)00162-0

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16 of 16 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Kasai, H., Matsuzaki, M., Noguchi, J., Yasumatsu, N., & Nakahara, H.
Affiliations
  • The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI (JP)
  • RIKEN Center for Brain Science (JP)
Corresponding author
Kasai, Haruo
Venue
Trends in Neurosciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-07
Volume
26
Issue
7
Pages
360-368
ISSN
0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1980574091
Cited by
847
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 56
FWCI
2.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
dendritic spines, synaptic stability, AMPA receptors, synaptic plasticity, actin cytoskeleton, fast synaptic transmission, supramolecular complexes, cerebral cortex
MeSH terms
Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Cytoskeleton, Dendrites, Learning, Memory, Synaptic Transmission, Neurons, Structure-Activity Relationship, Receptors, Glutamate

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