Hippocampal Ltd is reliably induced by low frequency stimulation in freely behaving neonatal rats

This study focuses on the induction of long-term potentiation and long-term depression of perforant path/dentate gyrus synapses in twelve-day old freely behaving rats. Long-term potentiation and long-term depression are important mechanisms in understanding learning and memory. We intend to compare our data in 12-day old animals to previous studies of conducted in 15- and 90-day old rats. Previous studies have shown that the transition from long-term depression to long-term potentiation is dependent on the frequency of the stimulation. We recorded evoked field potentials in awake behaving rats at 12 days of age. Thus far, we have only obtained data from one animal. Preliminary results indicate long-term depression can be reliably induced in animals as young as 12 days of age.