Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is classically though to be the cellular substrate for learning and memory. Recent data show that activation of glutamate receptors initiates a long-term modification in pre- or post-synaptic neuronal excitability. Similarly to synaptic plasticity, intrinsic plasticity is bidirectional and input- or cell-specific. In addition to an increase in the reliability of the input-output function, temporal precision of the neuronal discharge is improved. These

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... of plasticity not only share common learning rules and induction pathways with the better known synaptic plasticity but may also contribute in synergy with these synaptic changes to the formation of a coherent mnesic engram.