Principles of Circuit Organisation

Question 1

What are intrinsic neuron properties?

Answer 1

Cellular properties that deliver a particular response/activity

Question 2

Four common intrinsic neuron properties?

Answer 2

Endogenous Bursting - Pacemaker like activity
Plateau Potential - persistent depolarised state (cell can fire without continuous excitatory drive once triggered)
Post-inhibitory Rebound - depolarization occurs after inhibition
Spike adaptation - frequency reduces during maintained depolarization

Question 3

Synaptic connectivity for larger circuits? (building blocks)

Answer 3

Recurrent excitation - neurons both excite each other
Mutual inhibition - neurons both inhibit each other
Recurrent inhibition - one inhibitory connection and one excitatory
Cyclic inhibition - 3 phase inhibition
Directly opposed electrotonic junction
Electrical coupling via presynaptic fibres

Question 4

How do post-synaptic receptors contribute to neuronal communication?

Answer 4

Neurotransmitters have an affinity for various types of receptors, that determines the response of the post-synaptic neuron. E.g. Receptor 1 may excite and another variation may inhibit

Question 5

Evidence for differential roles of receptor types in voles?

Answer 5

Arogona et al (2006) shows D1 receptors in voles prevented bond formation and D2 receptors facilitate pair bonding in the NAcc. Upregulation of D1 antagonists prevented selective aggression towards unfamiliar females in male voles.