Pharmacological dissociation of different forms of synaptic plasticity in the marine mollusc Aplysia.

The actions of the neuromodulator serotonin (5HT) in Aplysia sensory neurons can be dissociated on the basis of their sensitivity to 5HT receptor antagonist cypropheptadine, and their concentration requirement to 5HT. Here we summarise a series of experiments that suggest that mechanically distinct processes contribute to the different physiological components of short- and long-term synaptic plasticity.