Reactive Oxygen Species, Synaptic Plasticity, and Memory

Increasing evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, act as signaling molecules necessary for neuronal processes underlying cognition. Specifically, ROS have been shown to be necessary in molecular processes underlying signal transduction, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation. Research from several laboratories suggests that NADPH oxidase is an important source of superoxide in the brain. Herein we review evidence showing that ROS are important signaling molecules involved in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Moreover, we will discuss the evidence that a neuronal NADPH oxidase complex is a key regulator of ROS generation in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Understanding redox signaling in the brain, including the sources and molecular targets of ROS, is important for a full understanding of the signaling pathways that underlie synaptic plasticity and memory. Moreover, knowledge of ROS function in the brain is critical for understanding aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease that may be exacerbated by the unregulated generation of ROS.