<P> In neuroscience, long - term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity . These are patterns of synaptic activity that produce a long - lasting increase in signal transmission between two neurons . The opposite of LTP is long - term depression, which produces a long - lasting decrease in synaptic strength . </P> <P> It is one of several phenomena underlying synaptic plasticity, the ability of chemical synapses to change their strength . As memories are thought to be encoded by modification of synaptic strength, LTP is widely considered one of the major cellular mechanisms that underlies learning and memory . </P> <P> LTP was discovered in the rabbit hippocampus by Terje Lømo in 1966 and has remained a popular subject of research since . Many modern LTP studies seek to better understand its basic biology, while others aim to draw a causal link between LTP and behavioral learning . Still others try to develop methods, pharmacologic or otherwise, of enhancing LTP to improve learning and memory . LTP is also a subject of clinical research, for example, in the areas of Alzheimer's disease and addiction medicine . </P>

What is the problem with ltp as an explanation for learning