Plasticity of brain circuits is thought to rely on the ability of neurons to adjust their synaptic strength in response to stimuli. For a long time, investigations into the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity have focused on excitatory synapses; however, it is now clear that inhibitory synapses also exhibit different forms of short- and long-term activity-dependent plasticity. For example, inhibitory plasticity can play an important homeostatic role in diverse physiological processes, such as nerve cell growth during development. On the other hand, homeostatic disruption due to pharmacologically active compounds or drugs of abuse can induce plastic changes in inhibitory neurotransmission. Moreover, long-term pathological changes in inhibitory transmission are associated with diverse neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy.
Despite the growing experimental evidence of inhibitory synapse plasticity, several key issues remain.
· Given the wide variety of inhibitory interneurons, more studies are needed to uncover the diversity of mechanisms underlying neuronal plasticity.
· Plasticity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses can occur simultaneously; however, how they are coordinated remains unclear.
· Most studies on inhibitory synapses have been performed in vitro. Therefore, the physiological correlates of this form of plasticity remain to be explored fully.
· The identification of plasticity mechanisms responsible for the effects of pharmacological agents and/or different neurodevelopmental disorders will be crucial for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to highlight ongoing research on the mechanisms of plasticity of inhibitory transmission which are relevant to physiological, pathological, and pharmacological conditions.
We welcome original research articles and reviews. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
· Mechanisms of short- and long-term inhibitory plasticity at the molecular, cellular, circuitry and behavioral levels during normal development and in adulthood.
· Pathology of inhibitory neurotransmission associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and the search for novel therapeutic targets.
· Interplay of regulation of excitation and inhibition in computational information processing.
· Homeostasis of the balance between excitation and inhibition in the healthy brain and during disease.
Plasticity of brain circuits is thought to rely on the ability of neurons to adjust their synaptic strength in response to stimuli. For a long time, investigations into the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity have focused on excitatory synapses; however, it is now clear that inhibitory synapses also exhibit different forms of short- and long-term activity-dependent plasticity. For example, inhibitory plasticity can play an important homeostatic role in diverse physiological processes, such as nerve cell growth during development. On the other hand, homeostatic disruption due to pharmacologically active compounds or drugs of abuse can induce plastic changes in inhibitory neurotransmission. Moreover, long-term pathological changes in inhibitory transmission are associated with diverse neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and epilepsy.
Despite the growing experimental evidence of inhibitory synapse plasticity, several key issues remain.
· Given the wide variety of inhibitory interneurons, more studies are needed to uncover the diversity of mechanisms underlying neuronal plasticity.
· Plasticity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses can occur simultaneously; however, how they are coordinated remains unclear.
· Most studies on inhibitory synapses have been performed in vitro. Therefore, the physiological correlates of this form of plasticity remain to be explored fully.
· The identification of plasticity mechanisms responsible for the effects of pharmacological agents and/or different neurodevelopmental disorders will be crucial for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
The aim of the present Research Topic is to highlight ongoing research on the mechanisms of plasticity of inhibitory transmission which are relevant to physiological, pathological, and pharmacological conditions.
We welcome original research articles and reviews. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
· Mechanisms of short- and long-term inhibitory plasticity at the molecular, cellular, circuitry and behavioral levels during normal development and in adulthood.
· Pathology of inhibitory neurotransmission associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and the search for novel therapeutic targets.
· Interplay of regulation of excitation and inhibition in computational information processing.
· Homeostasis of the balance between excitation and inhibition in the healthy brain and during disease.
