NEUR 1201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Membrane Potential, Axon Terminal, Resting Potential
11 Jun 2020
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Myelinated axons have a faster rate of conduction. The influx of ions changes the membrane potential of the post- synaptic neuron, causing a post-synaptic potential (psp). Inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (ipsp: neurotransmitters such as gaba and glycine are classified as inhibitory because their receptors allow the influx of anions (negative ions like cl-) Inhibitory nts hyperpolarize the post-synaptic membrane, decreasing the likelihood of another action potential: triggering an action potential, neurons receive hundreds of inputs. If there are a sufficient number of epsps happening close together in time or space, then an action potential is triggered. If epsps are too far apart, then the neuron has time to return to its resting potential, cancelling out the effect of the epsp. If the epsps are taking place further away from the axon hillock ( where the action potential begins ) than it is less likely to trigger an action potential.
