D1/D5 Receptor Activation Promotes Long-Term Potentiation and Synaptic Tagging/Capture in Hippocampal Area CA2

Long-term potentiation (LTP) as a cellular model of learning and memory

This preprint investigates the effects of dopamine D1/D5 receptor activation on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA2 region, an area implicated in social memory. While the broader paradigm of LTP as a correlate of learning and memory is well-established, this research falls under "normal science" as it explores specific mechanisms within this accepted framework. The study refines existing knowledge by demonstrating a novel role for dopamine signaling in modulating CA2 plasticity, contributing to the existing body of knowledge within the dominant paradigm. The research does not challenge the fundamental assumptions about LTP or propose a radical shift in understanding memory formation. Therefore, it does not qualify as a paradigm shift or model revolution. Instead, it represents a detailed exploration of specific molecular pathways within the current understanding of synaptic plasticity and its role in memory.