Frequency-Dependent Modulation of Short-Term Neuronal Dynamics in the Female and Male Dorsal and Ventral Rat Hippocampus

Short-term synaptic plasticity (STSP) and short-term neuronal dynamics (STND) are fundamental properties of neural circuits, essential for information processing and brain function. Emerging evidence suggests that biological sex may influence these properties, yet sex-related differences in STSP and STND remain underexplored. This study investigates sex-specific differences in short-term synaptic plasticity (STSP) and neuronal dynamics (STND) along the dorsoventral axis of the rat hippocampus. Our findings reveal that both STSP and STND exhibit significant variation between female and male subjects. These differences are particularly pronounced in the ventral hippocampus, a region associated with affective and motivational processes. Given the role of short-term activity-dependent neuronal phenomena in modulating information processing and network function, these findings suggest potential functional implications for sex-specific cognitive and emotional regulation. The results highlight the importance of incorporating sex as a biological variable in studies of hippocampal physiology and its relation to behavior.