Spine calcium signaling

Spines are specialized cellular compartments found at high density on the dendrites of many neurons. Glutamatergic synapses are made onto spines, which house much of the local machinery necessary to readout and regulate synaptic activity. By providing a diffusionally isolated signaling compartment, spines allow neighboring synapses to operate independently. Stimulusevoked increases in calcium concentration within spines trigger many forms of synaptic plasticity and can influence local excitability and morphology. This chapter focuses on the mechanisms of calcium handling and signaling within individual spines.