Dendrites, Spines & Receptors

What is a dendritic tree or arbor?

The full branching extent of a neuron's dendrites

What is the main general function of dendrites?

Receive and integrate incoming information

Why are dendrites highly branched?

To form huge numbers of connections

What neuron was used to show a massive dendritic arbor?

A Purkinje cell

What brain structure were Purkinje cells discussed with?

The cerebellum

What computational role were dendrites associated with?

Summing/integrating incoming signals

How many synapses can elaborate dendritic trees have?

Hundreds of thousands

What are dendritic spines?

Small protrusions that form postsynaptic sites

What happens to dendritic spine shape with communication in the lecture example?

Spines can become mushroom-shaped

Why can spine morphology change?

To facilitate more efficient neuronal communication

What is found on the receiving side of a synapse?

Receptors

What two receptor types were compared?

Ligand-gated ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors

What is a ligand-gated ion channel?

A receptor/channel that opens when a ligand binds

What do ligand-gated channels allow?

Rapid ion movement across the membrane

Which receptor type is associated with faster communication?

Ligand-gated ion channels

What does a G-protein-coupled receptor do?

Activates other proteins/signaling pathways inside the cell

Which receptor type is associated with longer-term intracellular effects?

G-protein-coupled receptors