Synaptic Transmission (2)

Question 1

What is the binomial model of quantal release at central synapses and what does it show?

Answer 1

p(x) = N!/((N-x)!*x!) * p^x * (1-p)^(N-1)

Probability of observing x vesicles released from N

Question 2

What is the Poisson distribution of quantal release at central synapses and what does it show?

Answer 2

m = ln(total trials/failures)

Average no. of quanta released (including failures) per AP

Question 3

What is the equation for the experimental no. of quanta released?

Answer 3

mexperimental = (mean evoked amplitude)/(mean miniature amplitude)

Question 4

Give the equation for the mean postsynaptic current amplitude with a binomial distribution

Answer 4

Ī = NPQ
N = no. of release sites
P = release probability
Q = quantal size

Question 5

Give the equation for the variance in postsynaptic current amplitude with a binomial distribution

Answer 5

σ1^2 = N * Q^2 * P(1-P)

Question 6

Give the equation linking mean postsynaptic current amplitude and variance with a binomial distribution

Answer 6

σ1^2 = (QĪ) - ((Ī^2)/N)