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I think it is the na+ ions because they bring the AP closer to threshold

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How are epsps produced?

EPSPs, or excitatory postsynaptic potentials, are produced when neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron's membrane, typically resulting in the opening of ion channels. This allows positively charged ions, such as sodium (Na+), to flow into the neuron, leading to a depolarization of the membrane potential. If the depolarization is sufficient to reach the threshold, it can trigger an action potential, propagating the signal along the neuron. EPSPs are crucial for synaptic transmission and play a key role in neural communication and processing.


What a neurotransmitter is?

A neurotransmitter is a chemical or peptide in synapses, usually between neurons, a neuron and muscle or a neuron and other organ. The neurotransmitter transmits information to and from and within the brain. When a neurotransmitter is released from the presynaptic cell in response to depolarization of the cell by an action potential, it diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds a receptor or ligand-gated ion channel on the postsynaptic cell. Binding on the postsynaptic cell alters the resting potential of the postsynaptic cell in either an inhibitory or excitatory manner, making the cell less susceptible or more susceptible (respectively) to an action potential. Examples include, but are not limited to, acetylcholine, GABA, noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine.


What effect does IPSP have on the postsynaptic nerurons membrane?

Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) cause hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron's membrane. This occurs when neurotransmitters bind to receptors, leading to the opening of ion channels that allow negatively charged ions, such as chloride (Cl⁻), to flow into the cell or positively charged ions, like potassium (K⁺), to flow out. As a result, the membrane potential becomes more negative, making it less likely for the neuron to reach the threshold for firing an action potential. Thus, IPSPs serve to inhibit neuronal activity and modulate signal transmission in neural circuits.


When ACh receptors open what ion causes depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane?

When acetylcholine (ACh) receptors open, sodium ions (Na+) primarily flow into the postsynaptic membrane. This influx of positively charged sodium ions leads to depolarization, making the inside of the cell more positive. If the depolarization reaches a certain threshold, it can trigger an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.


How does a neuron decide whether or not to produce action potentials?

A neuron decides whether or not to produce an action potential by a summation of excitatory and inhibitory signals at the trigger point of the neuron, the axon hillock (or, the initial segment of the axon immediately following the axon hillock), plus a sufficient density of voltage-gated sodium ion pores at the trigger point.Neurons can receive both excitatory and inhibitory inputs at the same time, and if a confluence of those multiple signals at the axon hillock/initial axon segment (or alternatively, an occasion of sufficiently quickly repeated excitatory signals) sums to yield a membrane potential there of about -55 mv, this will cause the large number of voltage-gated sodium ion pores present there to open, allowing a sufficient influx of sodium ions to raise the membrane potential momentarily higher, which depolarizes adjacent regions of the axon, allowing more voltage-gated ion pores to open, allowing more sodium ions in; these actions repeat and continue along the axon, achieving the action potential.It's important to understand that although the level of the summation of signal voltages is the trigger for the action potential, the initial firing of the action potential could not occur if there wasn't a sufficient density of voltage-gated sodium ion pores at the trigger point to allow sufficient sodium ions in to cause the membrane potential in adjacent regions to be high enough to open theirv-gated Na ion pores, so that the action potential could continue to propagate along the axon.

Related Questions

How is excitatory postsynaptic potential produce?

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) are produced when neurotransmitters bind to excitatory receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, causing a depolarization of the neuron. This depolarization results in the opening of ion channels that allow positively charged ions, such as sodium and calcium, to enter the neuron, further depolarizing it. The cumulative effect of EPSPs from multiple synapses can reach the threshold for action potential initiation.


How long does an excitatory postsynaptic potential lasts?

An excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) typically lasts for a few milliseconds, ranging from about 10 milliseconds to a maximum of around 50 milliseconds. The duration of an EPSP can vary depending on factors such as the specific neurotransmitter involved, the properties of the receptor, and the activity of ion channels in the postsynaptic neuron.


How does the end plate potential differ from a EPSP on a post synaptic cell?

End plate potential is the change in potential from neurotransmitters. It can be excitatory or inhibitory. If the action potential wants to continue, it will be excitatory and vice versa. It can be additive, if more action potentials are fired it will increase the end plate potential. An action potential is an all or none response. It will either proceed or it will not proceed depending on the terms of the threshold. It cannot be additive, because there is an absolute refractory period where no additional action potentials can be fired.


How is a receptor potential similar to an excitatory post synaptic potential generated at a synapse?

A receptor potential and an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) are both graded potentials that result from the opening of ion channels in response to a stimulus. In receptor potentials, sensory receptors respond to external stimuli, leading to depolarization, while EPSPs occur when neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, allowing positively charged ions to flow in. Both processes can summate, contributing to the generation of action potentials if the depolarization reaches a threshold. Thus, they share mechanisms of synaptic transmission and signal transduction in the nervous system.


What a neurotransmitter is?

A neurotransmitter is a chemical or peptide in synapses, usually between neurons, a neuron and muscle or a neuron and other organ. The neurotransmitter transmits information to and from and within the brain. When a neurotransmitter is released from the presynaptic cell in response to depolarization of the cell by an action potential, it diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds a receptor or ligand-gated ion channel on the postsynaptic cell. Binding on the postsynaptic cell alters the resting potential of the postsynaptic cell in either an inhibitory or excitatory manner, making the cell less susceptible or more susceptible (respectively) to an action potential. Examples include, but are not limited to, acetylcholine, GABA, noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine.


What is the difference between the way excitatory and inhibitory transmitters work?

As a rule more than one presynaptic action potential is needed to fire the postsynaptic neuron or muscle so that the trigger to initiate an action potential are either many subthreshold local potentials from different sources or from the same neuron received within a short period of time. The first case is called spatial summation and the second case is called temporal summation. Whether a postsynaptic potential (another term for a local potential) is excitatory or inhibitory depends on what ion channels are affected by the transmitter released from the presynaptic vesicles.


What effect does IPSP have on the postsynaptic nerurons membrane?

Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) cause hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron's membrane. This occurs when neurotransmitters bind to receptors, leading to the opening of ion channels that allow negatively charged ions, such as chloride (Cl⁻), to flow into the cell or positively charged ions, like potassium (K⁺), to flow out. As a result, the membrane potential becomes more negative, making it less likely for the neuron to reach the threshold for firing an action potential. Thus, IPSPs serve to inhibit neuronal activity and modulate signal transmission in neural circuits.


When ACh receptors open what ion causes depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane?

When acetylcholine (ACh) receptors open, sodium ions (Na+) primarily flow into the postsynaptic membrane. This influx of positively charged sodium ions leads to depolarization, making the inside of the cell more positive. If the depolarization reaches a certain threshold, it can trigger an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.


How does a neuron decide whether or not to produce action potentials?

A neuron decides whether or not to produce an action potential by a summation of excitatory and inhibitory signals at the trigger point of the neuron, the axon hillock (or, the initial segment of the axon immediately following the axon hillock), plus a sufficient density of voltage-gated sodium ion pores at the trigger point.Neurons can receive both excitatory and inhibitory inputs at the same time, and if a confluence of those multiple signals at the axon hillock/initial axon segment (or alternatively, an occasion of sufficiently quickly repeated excitatory signals) sums to yield a membrane potential there of about -55 mv, this will cause the large number of voltage-gated sodium ion pores present there to open, allowing a sufficient influx of sodium ions to raise the membrane potential momentarily higher, which depolarizes adjacent regions of the axon, allowing more voltage-gated ion pores to open, allowing more sodium ions in; these actions repeat and continue along the axon, achieving the action potential.It's important to understand that although the level of the summation of signal voltages is the trigger for the action potential, the initial firing of the action potential could not occur if there wasn't a sufficient density of voltage-gated sodium ion pores at the trigger point to allow sufficient sodium ions in to cause the membrane potential in adjacent regions to be high enough to open theirv-gated Na ion pores, so that the action potential could continue to propagate along the axon.


How does neurotransmitters initiate depolarization?

Let's picture a presynaptic neuron, a synaptic cleft, and a postsynaptic neuron. An action potential reaches the terminal of a presynaptic neurone and triggers an opening of Ca ions enters into the depolarized terminal. This influx of Ca ions causes the presynaptic vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic membrane. This releases the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmitters diffuse through the synaptic cleft and bind to specific postsynaptic membrane receptors. This binding changes the receptors into a ion channel that allows cations like Na to enter into the postsynaptic neuron. As Na enters the postsynaptic membrane, it begins to depolarize and an action potential is generated.


How does a signal cross the synaptic gap?

When an action potential reaches the axon terminal of a neuron, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing ion channels to open and allow ions to flow in, generating a new action potential in the receiving neuron.


What happens when an impulse arrives at a synapse?

The electrical impulse causes chemicals called neurotransmitters to be released from the axon terminals of the pre-synaptic neuron which diffuseacross the synaptic cleft and fit into receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.In an excitatory synapse, the presence of the neurotransmitters in the receptors of ligand-gated ion pores cause those pores to open and allow sodium ions into the post-synaptic neuron, which results in an electrotonic signal being conducted down the dendrite and soma to the axon hillock, which may initiate an action potential in the axon if enough signals are summed up at the axon hillock to reach a trigger value.