Synaptic Mechanisms of Learning

Primary motor cortex is a key brain structure involved in the acquisition and performance of skilled movement. The intrinsic connectivity of motor cortex is highly adaptive, and synaptic plasticity can be induced in response to various stimulation protocols. This plasticity is thought to represent a neural mechanism by which motor skills are encoded by the nervous system. In support of this hypothesis, skill learning alters synaptic responses and increases synapse number within motor cortex in a manner that parallels changes in motor performance. This synaptic plasticity is thought to underlie the learning-dependent reorganization of movement representations.