Dictionary of Biological Psychology
Abbreviations for excitatory and INHIBITORY POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIALS respectively. EPSPs hypopolarize a NEURON’S membrane and IPSPs hyperpolarize it.
Unlike an ACTION POTENTIAL, postsynaptic potentials propagate passively, with the amplitude of the change in voltage dropping sharply as the distance from the SYNAPSE increases. It is thought that the EPSPs, IPSPs and intrinsic oscillatory potentials sum at the AXON HILLOCK to trigger action potentials. Computationally, however, the summing of postsynaptic potentials is not limited to simple excitation and inhibition, as complex non-linear interactions can occur depending on the shape of the neuron’s SOMA and dendritic tree (see DENDRITE).
ERIC M.BOWMAN
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