Computational Capabilities of Single Neurons: Relationship to Simple Forms of Associative and Nonassociative Learning in Aplysia

This chapter describes some of the consequences of incorporating single-cell models into a network consisting of multiple plastic cells. Synaptic transmission is by no means a simple process, and changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission can be because of a number of factors acting either independently or in concert. Transmitter release can be considered the product of two variables. One is the number of vesicles of transmitter available for release (N) and the second is the probability of release (P). Factors affecting the number of vesicles include the synthesis of transmitter, the reuptake of released transmitter, and the mobilization of vesicles from storage or reserve pools to release sites in the presynaptic terminal. Changes in synaptic transmission need not be limited to strictly a pre- or a post-synaptic locus; they could occur at both loci.