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Dendritic Spines

Meaning

Dendritic spines are small, membranous protrusions that extend from the dendrites of neurons, serving as the primary postsynaptic sites for excitatory synaptic input. These mushroom-shaped structures are fundamental to synaptic plasticity, memory formation, and learning, representing the physical substrate of neural communication. Their density and morphology are highly dynamic and profoundly influenced by circulating neuroactive hormones.