the synapse 2 (week 10)

Question 1

how is the pain neurone inhibited?

Answer 1

the pain modulator neurone excites the inhibitory interneuron which inhibits the pain neuron

Question 2

what are some key things that control plasticity?

Answer 2

regulation of the amount of neurotransmitter released, number of receptors present and the efficiency of the inactivation process.

Question 3

what is LTP?

Answer 3

Long term potentiation - increases the excitability of the neurone and the transmission of neurotransmitters (important in memory retention and learning skills)

Question 4

what is LTD?

Answer 4

Long term depression - the synapse becomes harder to activate

Question 5

what are encephalins?

Answer 5

small peptide neuromodulators which control the transmission of pain in the spinal cord (natural painkillers)

Question 6

what is neuronal convergence?

Answer 6

signals from pre-synaptic neurons converging on a post-synaptic neurone

Question 7

what is neuronal divergence?

Answer 7

signals created by a single neurone passes to a number of neurons (without loss of action potential strength) (can be spatially focused or widely divergent)