Synapses

Question 1

Describe the vesicular hypothesis

Answer 1

The idea that neurotransmitter is packaged into synaptic vesicles and released in quanta (unit events) of roughly the same size

Question 2

Synaptic integration

Answer 2

Decision made about whether or not to fire an ap based on product of interactions of collective inputs

Question 3

Where are decisions made in neurons and why?

Answer 3

Axon hillock in the spike initiation zone (SIZ)

Synaptic integration happens here because there is a very high concentration of voltage-gated ion channels

Question 4

Space constant

Answer 4

Lamda

Aka length constant

Distance along a neuron that a electrical potential can travel before it dissipates

Question 5

Time constant

Answer 5

Time it takes for potential to decay at one point along the membrane

Membrane capacitance x membrane resistance

Higher capacitance= longer time constant
High Rm= longer time constant