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Science 6 May 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5723, p. 753
DOI: 10.1126/science.308.5723.753l
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Despite its profound importance, neurotransmitter release probability has never been directly determined at central synapses, and it is not known what factors are involved in its regulation. Koester and Johnston (p. 863, published online 17 March 2005; see the Perspective by Thompson) show that release probability deduced from postsynaptic calcium transients is similar between synapses onto the same cell, but differs between those onto different cells. This normalization of release probabilities in specific synaptic connection indicates that additional release sites in neocortical synaptic connections not only reduce synaptic variability but also provide every targeted neuronal compartment with information at the same rate.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)