Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.07.28.224857v1?rss=1 Authors: Park, P., Kang, H., Georgiou, J., Zhuo, M., Kaang, B.-K., Collingridge, G. L. Abstract: The synaptic tag and capture (STC) hypothesis provides an important theoretical basis for understanding the synaptic basis of associative learning. We recently provided pharmacological evidence that calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) are a crucial component of this process. Here we have investigated two predictions that arise on the basis of CP-AMPARs serving as a trigger of the STC effect. Firstly, we compared the effects of the order in which we delivered a strong theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocol (75 pulses) and a weak TBS protocol (15 pulses) to two independent inputs. We only observed a significant STC effect when the strong preceded the weak TBS. Second, we found that pausing stimulation following either the sTBS or the wTBS for ~20 min largely eliminates the STC effect. These observations are exactly as predicted for a process that is triggered by the synaptic insertion of CP-AMPARs and provide a framework for establishing the underlying molecular mechanism. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info