Week 3 (Synaptic Communication, IPSP and EPSP)

How neurons communicate

• A neuron will receive a signal from another neuron

• If that signal is strong it will cause action potential

• That action potential will travel along the axon to the terminals

• The axon terminals will release transmitters into the synaptic gap

• Neuro transmitters will bind to the receptors on the adject neuron terminal

• (will continue to regenerate itself until it hits the axon terminals)

Adding up signals

• All of the IPSPs (inhibitory) and EPSPs (excitatory) are added at the axon

• Signals that are closer to the hillock are stronger than those farther away

• EPSP typically hit further away, IPSP hit closer

Summation

• Temporal summation

  • Repeated stimuli from ONE presynaptic neuron over a brief period of time

• Spatial summation

  • Stimuli from SEVERAL presynaptic neurons can add up