PSYC 3341 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential, Axon Terminal, Action Potential

• School: University of Houston
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3341
• Professor: Johanna Bick

Document Summary

Synaptic transmission: neurons communicate with each other chemically, presynaptic neuron: before the synapse; sends the signal, postsynaptic neuron: after the synapse; receives the signal. Ion channels open on postsynaptic cell: na+ channels: epsp, k+ channels: ipsp, cl- channels: ipsp, excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp): depolarization. Increases the likelihood that an action potential will occur. Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (ipsp): hyperpolarization: decreases the likelihood of an action potential. Properties of synapses: temporal summation: repeated stimuli within a brief time collectively produce an action potential, spatial summation: several stimuli presented at the same time in separate (but close) locations can collectively cause an action potential.