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Dendritic Spine Density

Meaning

Dendritic spine density refers to the quantifiable measure of the number of small, mushroom-shaped protrusions, known as dendritic spines, present per unit length of a neuron’s dendrite. These spines are the primary postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses in the brain, playing a critical role in neuronal communication, synaptic plasticity, and the physical basis of learning and memory. Fluctuations in this density are directly linked to cognitive function and neuroendocrine signaling.