Introduction to Postsynaptic Potentials (PSPs) The postsynaptic potential (PSP) represents a fundamental electrical event occurring within the receptive domain of a neuron—typically the dendrites or the soma—following the successful transmission of a signal across a synapse. This potential is crucial for intercellular communication within the nervous system, translating the chemical signal released by the presynaptic […]
EXCITATORY POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIAL (EPSP) The Core Definition of EPSP The Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP) represents a transient depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron membrane caused by the influx of positively charged ions. In its simplest form, an EPSP is a graded electrical potential that occurs when an excitatory neurotransmitter is released from the presynaptic terminal, binding […]
Sensory Summation Introduction to Sensory Summation Sensory summation is a fundamental neurophysiological process defined as the mechanism by which the nervous system integrates multiple subthreshold stimuli to generate a response that would otherwise be impossible with any single stimulus alone. This principle is vital for the survival and functioning of an organism, allowing for the […]