Final answer:
Short-term synaptic changes generally pertain to the presynaptic terminal's activity, affecting neurotransmitter availability, while long-term synaptic changes like LTP and LTD are associated with postsynaptic activity involving AMPA and NMDA receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertaining to the synaptic changes on the cellular level deals with concepts of synaptic plasticity, specifically long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Short-term changes in synaptic strength are often the result of alterations in neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal, which might affect the number of neurotransmitter molecules available to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, impacting the likelihood of generating a postsynaptic potential. In contrast, long-term changes such as LTP and LTD involve activity at the postsynaptic terminal, where repeated stimulation leads to calcium entry through NMDA receptors, triggering cascades that either increase the number of AMPA receptors on the postsynaptic membrane or cause their removal, respectively. This results in the strengthening or weakening of the synaptic connection.