Fig. 2

Surface dependent diffusion enables macroscopic simulation of trapping effects at the post synaptic density in dendritic spines. a Illustration of the implemented three-dimensional spine geometry. Light blue indicates the area of the PSD. b Timecourses of AMPAR accumulation at the PSD. The diffusion coefficients (D) for AMPARs at the PSD are changed between timecourses while the diffusion coefficients on the extra synaptic membrane (ESM) are same. D is changed from D\(_{\text{ PSD }}\) = D\(_{\text{ ESM }}\) (darkblue) to D\(_{\text{ PSD }}\) \(\cdot\) 100,000 = D\(_{\text{ PSD }}\) (lightblue). All time courses are averages of 10 simulation runs. AMPAR trapping happens solely based on the diffusive properties of the environment. The pink time course indicates a different simulation where AMPAR are trapped due to scaffold binding instead of changes in diffusive behavior (D\(_{\text{ PSD }}\) = D\(_{\text{ ESM }}\)). c Influence of changes in the diffusive properties of the PSD on scaffold trapping