Stochastic, structural and functional factors influencing AMPA and NMDA synaptic response variability: a review

Synaptic transmission is the basic mechanism of information trans- fer among neurons not only in the brain but along all the nervous system. In the present review we will briefly summarize some of the main parameters which produce stochastic variability of the synap- tic response. This variability produces different effects on important brain phenomena, like learning and memory, and, alterations of its basic factors can be the cause of brain malfunctioning.