Final answer:
LTP is fundamental in a) long-term memory formation by strengthening synaptic connections when neurons are repeatedly activated together, particularly through mechanisms involving NMDA and AMPA receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Long-term Potentiation (LTP) plays a crucial role in long-term memory formation. LTP is the enduring enhancement of synaptic strength which occurs when two neurons are repeatedly activated together. This biological process is based on the Hebbian principle that 'cells that fire together wire together'.
One mechanism of synaptic strengthening involves NMDA receptors, positively affected by calcium influx, which, in turn, results in more AMPA receptors being added to the postsynaptic neuron's membrane. The increased presence of AMPA receptors makes the neuron more likely to fire in response to future neurotransmitter releases, thus facilitating the consolidation of long-term memories. Therefore, the role LTP plays is (a) long-term memory formation.