THE PROCESS OF EXCITATION AND INHIBITION

What are the 2 types of synaptic connections

Snaptic connections can be excitatory or inhibitory - the difference lies in the action of the neurotransmitter at the postsynaptic receptor

What do excitatory transmitters do

They trigger nerve impulses stimulate brain activity.

What do excitatory transmitters act as

They act as a kind of 'on-switch' resulting in an excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP) and increase the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron firing.

What is an example of an excitatory transmitter

What do inhubitory transmitters do

They inhibit nerve impulses and have a calming effect on the brain.

What do inhibitory neurotransmitters act as

They act as 'off-switches' resulting in an inhibitory post-synaptic potential (IPSP) and decrease the chances of the post-neuron firing.

What is an example of an inhibitory neurotransmitter

For example, serotonin has a calming and stabilising effect on mood. Another example is GABA.

What is sunmation

A nerve cell can receive both EPSPs and IPSPs and therefore whether or not it fires depends on the relative amount of each.

In summation, what is summed up

The numbers of excitatory neurotransmitter impulses and the number of inhibitory neurotransmitter impulses are 'summed up' and if larger numbers of excitatory neurotransmitter impulses are received then the post-synaptic neuron will fire.