Homosynaptic plasticity

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/homosynaptic-plasticity

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core principle?Activity-dependent strengthening of synaptic connections
2. What is the primary mechanism?Long-term potentiation (LTP) at frequently activated synapses
3. Why do some brain connections get stronger than others?Because they are used more often, the brain makes them bigger and faster, helping us remember and learn.
4. How does practicing a skill change the brain?Repeating the skill makes the neurons fire together more, adding more receptors and making the synapse bigger, which keeps the skill in memory.

Synaptic Efficacy: The strength and efficiency with which a synapse transmits signals between neurons.
Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): A persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity.
Neurotransmitter: Chemical messengers released by neurons to transmit signals across synapses.