PSY 2116 Lecture Notes - Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential, Cytosol
25 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
Most cns neurons receive thousands of synaptic inputs that activate different combinations of transmitter-gated ion channels and g-protein-coupled receptors. The postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and gives rise to a simple form of output: action potentials. Synaptic integration is the process by which multiple synaptic potentials combine within one postsynaptic neuron. The integration of epsps: the most elementary postsynaptic response is the opening of a single transmitter-gated channel, the postsynaptic membrane of one synapse may have from a few tens to several thousands of transmitter-gated channels. How many of these are activated during synaptic transmission depends mainly on how much neurotransmitter is released: quantal analysis of epsps. The elementary unit of neurotransmitter release is the contents of a signle synaptic vesicles. Postsynaptic epsps at a given synapse are quantized. At many synapses, exocytosis of vesicles occur at some very low rate in the absence of presynaptic stimulation. This tiny response is a miniature postsynaptic potential.
