The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition.

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  • Created on: 31-05-22 13:01
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  • The process of synaptic transmission, including reference to neurotransmitters, excitation and inhibition
    • An action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal.
      • This causes vesicles in the presynaptic neuron to fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. ??
        • Neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft
          • Neurotransmitters combine with receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.
            • Neurotransmitters will cause a stimulation of postsynaptic receptors either:  Excitatory effect or Inhibitory effect.
              • Excitatory
                • increases the likelihood of an action potential so increases neural activity.
                • If the neurotransmitter is excitatory then the post synaptic neuron is more likely    to fire an impulse. E.g. Adrenaline
              • Inhibitory
                • decreases the likelihood of an action potential so decreases neural activation.
                • If the neurotransmitter is inhibitory then the post synaptic neuron is less likely to fire an impulse. E.g. GABA
                  • A nerve cell has multiple connections to other nerve cells. A nerve cell can receive both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters at one time.
                    • If the neurotransmitter is excitatory then the post synaptic neuron is more likely    to fire an impulse. E.g. Adrenaline
                    • The likelihood of cell firing is determined by adding up the excitatory and inhibitory input (summation).
                      • If the net effect on the post synaptic neuron is inhibitory, the neuron will be less likely to ‘fire’ and if the net effect is excitatory, the neuron will be more likely to fire.

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