login

Structure, development, and plasticity of dendritic spines

Current Opinion in NeurobiologyPublished 1 June 1999
Kristen M. Harris
Citations517
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score2.54
SNIP1.27

TL;DR

Dendritic spines are distinguished by their shapes, subcellular composition, and synaptic receptor subtypes and can form without synaptic activation, are maintained by optimal activation, and are lost with excessive activation or during degeneration.

Abstract

Dendritic spines are distinguished by their shapes, subcellular composition, and synaptic receptor subtypes. Recent studies show that actin-dependent movements take place in spine heads, that spines emerge from stubby and shaft synapses after dendritic filopodia disappear, and that spines can form without synaptic activation, are maintained by optimal activation, and are lost with excessive activation or during degeneration.

Keywords

Materials ScienceNeuroscience