............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... v List of Tables and Figures................................................................................................... x General In...

The dentate gyrus is the main entry gate for cortical input to the hippocampus and one of the few brain areas where adult neurogenesis occurs. Several studies have shown that it is relatively difficult to induce synaptic plasticity in mature but not in newborn dentate granule cells. In the present work we have systematically addressed how classical protocols to induce synaptic plasticity affect...

The primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is topographically organized into a map of the body. This organization is dynamic, undergoing experience-dependent modifications throughout life. It has been hypothesized that excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity of horizontal intracortical connections contributes to functional reorganization. However, very little is known about synaptic plasticity...

A primary feature of drug addiction is the compulsive use despite negative consequences. A general consensus is emerging on the capacity of addictive substances to co-opt synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity in brain circuits which are involved in reinforcement and reward processing. A current hypothesis is that drug-driven neuroadaptations during learning and memory processes divert t...