What is synaptic integration?
How neurons combine excitatory and inhibitory inputs to control activity.
How many excitatory and inhibitory synapses does a rat pyramidal cell have?
About 10–15k excitatory, 1–2k inhibitory synapses.
What is the signal flow in neuronal communication?
Electrical → chemical → electrical.
What do EPSPs and IPSPs do?
EPSPs depolarize; IPSPs hyperpolarize.
What are localized (graded) potentials?
Small, short-distance voltage changes in dendrites or receptors.
How is info encoded in localized potentials?
By amplitude — stronger stimulus = bigger potential.
Give an example of a receptor showing localized potential.
Pacinian corpuscle — pressure causes graded depolarization.
How do action potentials differ from graded potentials?
APs are all-or-none and don’t decay; graded potentials fade with distance.
How is info encoded in action potentials?
By the firing rate or timing of spikes.
What does rate coding mean?
Firing rate of a neuron codes for spatial position (place cells).
What does synaptic weight mean?
Strength of a synapse’s effect on the postsynaptic neuron.
Why are excitatory synapses scaled (democratic)?
To keep distant synapses as effective — farther ones make bigger EPSPs.
How does a thinner dendrite affect EPSPs?
Smaller dendrites = higher resistance = bigger voltage change.
What do perisomatic inhibitory synapses do?
They inhibit near the soma, controlling action potential output.
What are spatial and temporal summation?
Spatial: different synapses add; Temporal: same synapse adds over time.
What is shunting inhibition?
An IPSP that reduces EPSPs by short-circuiting current flow.
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Ion channels I20
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Ion channels II20
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Ion channels III10
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Synaptic Integration16
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Sensory receptors & somatosensation15
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Ascending sensory pathways18
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Somatosensory perception15
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Social touch14
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Pain processing20
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Chronic vs acute pain20
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Reflexes and CPG's21
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Motor cortex21
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Cerebellum21
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Basal ganglia14
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Auditory system22
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Auditory & vestibular systems25
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Inner ear disorders21
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Visual pathway10
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Light transduction20
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Visual processing27
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Taste25
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Smell19
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Pheromones16
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Circadian oscillations0
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Sleep0
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Biological timing0
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Ultradian & circadian timekeepers0
