neurons

Question 1

What are IPSP and EPSPs ?

Answer 1

• Excitatory Post Synaptic Potential (EPSP) – increases the neuron’s ability to generate an action potential (bringing the membrane closer to a threshold of -50mv)
• Inhibitory Post Synaptic Potential (IPSP) – reduces the neuron’s ability to generate an action potential

Question 2

what is summation

Answer 2

is the process where multiple postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs or IPSPs) combine to determine whether an action potential is triggered.

Question 3

types of summation

Answer 3

• Temporal summation – Multiple signals from the same neuron occur close together in time.
• Spatial summation – Signals from multiple neurons combine.
• Balanced summation – EPSPs and IPSPs can cancel each other out, influencing whether the neuron fires.