Synaptic amplification by active membrane in dendritic spines.

The suspected functional role of dendritic spines as loci of neuronal plasticity (possibly memory and learning) is greatly enriched when active membrane properties are assumed at the spine head. Computations with reasonable electrical and structural parameter values (corresponding to an optimal range for spine stem resistance) show that an active spine head membrane can provide very significant synaptic amplification and also strongly non-linear properties that could modulate the integration of input from many afferent sources.