Postsynaptic potentials

(noun)

Changes in the membrane potential of the postsynaptic terminal of a chemical synapse.

Related Terms

Examples of Postsynaptic potentials in the following topics:

  • Postsynaptic Potentials and Their Integration at the Synapse

    • Postsynaptic potentials are excitatory or inhibitory changes in the graded membrane potential in the postsynaptic terminal of a chemical synapse.
    • Postsynaptic potentials are changes in the membrane potential of the postsynaptic terminal of a chemical synapse.
    • Postsynaptic potentials are graded potentials and should not be confused with action potentials, although their function is to initiate or inhibit action potentials.
    • This is an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP).
    • Postsynaptic potentials are subject to spatial and temporal summation.

  • Signal Summation

    • Sometimes, a single excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron, but often multiple presynaptic inputs must create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
    • One neuron often has input from many presynaptic neurons, whether excitatory or inhibitory; therefore, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) can cancel out EPSPs and vice versa.
    • The net change in postsynaptic membrane voltage determines whether the postsynaptic cell has reached its threshold of excitation needed to fire an action potential.
    • If the neuron only receives excitatory impulses, it will also generate an action potential.

  • Neurotransmitters

    • Inhibitory neurotransmitters cause hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic cell (that is, decreasing the voltage gradient of the cell, thus bringing it further away from an action potential), while excitatory neurotransmitters cause depolarization (bringing it closer to an action potential).
    • The effect of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic element is entirely dependent on the receptor protein.
    • If there is no receptor protein in the membrane of the postsynaptic element, then the neurotransmitter has no effect.
    • The depolarizing (more likely to reach an action potential) or hyperpolarizing (less likely to reach an action potential) effect is also dependent on the receptor.
    • When acetylcholine binds to the nicotinic receptor, the postsynaptic cell is depolarized.

  • Synaptic Plasticity

    • Short-term synaptic enhancement results from more synaptic terminals releasing transmitters in response to presynaptic action potentials.
    • Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent strengthening of a synaptic connection, which can last for minutes or hours.
    • However, when the postsynaptic neuron is depolarized by multiple presynaptic inputs in quick succession (either from one neuron or multiple neurons), the magnesium ions are forced out and Ca2+ ions pass into the postsynaptic cell.
    • The weakening and pruning of unused synapses trims unimportant connections, leaving only the salient connections strengthened by long-term potentiation.
    • Calcium entry through postsynaptic NMDA receptors can initiate two different forms of synaptic plasticity: long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD).

  • The Synapse

    • The neuron transmitting the electrical impulse away from the synapse is called postsynaptic neuron.
    • At a synapse , the presynaptic neuron sends information and postsynaptic neuron receives the information.
    • Most neurons, function as both as presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons.
    • Both the presynaptic and postsynaptic sites contain extensive arrays of molecular machinery that link the two membranes together and carry out the signaling process.
    • Release of neurotransmitters usually follows arrival of an action potential at the synapse, but may also follow graded electrical potentials found in dendrites.

  • Mechanics of the Action Potential

    • Resting potential.
    • If the membrane potential reaches -55 mV, it has reached the threshold of excitation.
    • Eventually, the cell potential reaches +40 mV, or the action potential.
    • This expulsion acts to restore the localized negative membrane potential of the cell.
    • Synaptic responses summate in order to bring the postsynaptic neuron to the threshold of excitation, so it can fire an action potential (represented by the peak on the chart).

  • Types of Neurotransmitters by Function

    • They are released into and diffuse across the synaptic cleft, where they bind to specific receptors in the membrane on the postsynaptic side of the synapse.
    • Release of neurotransmitters usually follows arrival of an action potential at the synapse, but may also follow a graded electrical potential.
    • The most prevalent transmitter in the human brain is glutamate, which promotes excitatory effects by  increasing the probability that the target cell will fire an action potential.

  • Synaptic Transmission

    • Neurotransmission at a chemical synapse begins with the arrival of an action potential at the presynaptic axon terminal.
    • When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated Na+ channels.
    • The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft, binding to receptor proteins on the postsynaptic membrane.
    • As long as it is bound to a post synaptic receptor, a neurotransmitter continues to affect membrane potential.
    • The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to ligand-gated ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane, resulting in a localized depolarization or hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron.

  • Stages of the Action Potential

    • The effect upon the postsynaptic (receiving) neuron is determined not by the presynaptic (sending) neuron or by the neurotransmitter itself, but by the type of receptor that is activated.
    • A neurotransmitter can be thought of as a key, and a receptor as a lock: the key unlocks a certain response in the postsynaptic neuron, communicating a particular signal.
    • Therefore, the neuron cannot reach action potential during this "rest period."
    • In other words, larger currents do not create larger action potentials.
    • The frequency of action potentials is correlated with the intensity of a stimulus.

  • Peripheral Motor Endings

    • The highly excitable region of muscle fiber plasma membrane is responsible for initiation of action potentials across the muscle's surface, ultimately causing the muscle to contract.
    • Upon the arrival of an action potential at the presynaptic neuron terminal, voltage-dependent calcium channels open and Ca2+ ions flow from the extracellular fluid into the presynaptic neuron's cytosol.
    • The action potential spreads through the muscle fiber's network of T-tubules, depolarizing the inner portion of the muscle fiber.
    • Skeletal muscle contracts following activation by an action potential.
    • Postsynaptic densities are visible on the tips between the folds.