Interaction of LTP-Like and LTD-Like Plasticity and Motor Learning in Healthy Human Subjects

Motor learning is essential for the acquisition and rehabilitation of motor skills. It is supposed that rapid learning occurs through modification of synaptic strength in which long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) form the most important mechanisms. The Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro (BCM) theory states that the threshold for LTP induction increases and for LTD induction decreases if LTP was involved in a preceding learning process. The aim of the present experiments was to verify this prediction of the BCM theory in humans. For motor practice (MP), subjects were instructed to perform 450 fastes…