Dictionary of Biological Psychology
inhibitory postsynaptic potential
(IPSP) A HYPERPOLARIZATION of a NEURON evoked by input at a SYNAPSE by an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
IPSPs are local potentials that decay with distance and can summate with other IPSPs and ESPSs (EXCITATORY POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIAL) that are occurring in the same cell. They have a slow time course (tens or hundreds of milliseconds) and therefore show TEMPORAL SUMMATION when repeated inputs occur at the same synapse. They are called inhibitory because they move the membrane potential away from the neuron’s THRESHOLD, making it less likely for the neuron to produce an ACTION POTENTIAL.
DOUGLAS D.RASMUSSON
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