Synapses & neural integration

How can neural communication be measured?

Electrically (ions) or chemically (microdialysis)

What is multi-neuron recording (LFP)?

• Record brain rhythms (local field potential)

• Advantages: OK spatial & temporal resolution

• Disadvantages: only record groups of neurons, invasive

What is single-neuron recording?

Advantages: high spatial & temporal resolution

Disadvantages: extracellular recording, invasive

What is intracellular recording?

Advantages: high spatial resolution, examine sub-cellular processes, high temporal resolution

Disadvantages: only one cell at a time, only in anaesthetised animals

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Across synapses

What are the 2 types of receptors?

Ionotropic: transmit info quickly, relatively simple mechanism

Metabotropic: slow acting & long lasting, complex mechanism

What are the 2 types of neurotransmitters?

Excitatory: causes depolarisation - produces action potentials, excitatory post-synaptic potential, e.g. glutamate

Inhibitory: causes hyperpolarisation - stops action potentials, inhibitory post-synaptic potential, e.g. GABA

What is the point neuron hypothesis?

Each synapse has an equal weighting in ability to make neuron fire, if excitatory input greater than inhibitory then action potential occurs

What is the multiple compartment hypothesis?

Neurons split into multiple functional compartments, each one sums up its excitatory & inhibitory inputs

Local computation - each compartment sums excitation vs inhibition

Output of whole neuron based on sum of local computations