Role And Control Of Synapses

Question 1

What is the role of synapses

Answer 1

Unidirectional transmission - AP always in one direction. I.e. can go back from motor to relay

Can cause multiple responses from one stimulus - I.e. if touch hella hot, brain will receive signal, muscles will reflex …. Hella responses

Can receive multiple stimuli for one response - series of stimuli produce one coordinated response.

Question 2

What is summation

Answer 2

The effect of the build up of neurotransmitters in the synapse -> a new action potential can only be triggered if the neurotransmitters have built up to a threshold level

Question 3

What is spatial summation

Answer 3

When there are multiple neurons connected to one post synaptic neurone - more than one of the presynaptic neurone has to release the NT to diffuse across the synapse gap to trigger the AP. However if only one receives AP and the others don’t, no AP can be generated

Question 4

What is temporal summation

Answer 4

Hella high frequency AP being received at the presynaptic neurone o a lot more neurotransmitters can be released. However if there’s only low frequency of AP, only a smidgen of neurotransmitters ca;be triggered so no action potential can be triggered