Integration Activity of Neurons

Transformation of a synaptic input into action potential
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The role of synaptic input in formation of a neuronal response
Synaptic inputs that are located close to the trigger zone (axon hillock), are more effective in depolarizing and hyperpolarizing it than synaptic inputs of equal strength located further away. To overcome such disadvantage, peripheral synapses group together (multiple inputs from a single source) or they elicit various forms of dendritic spike potentials. From the point of further information processing, location of synapses is often decisive. Excitatory and inhibitory synapses can be located at various strategic points: Such strategic positioning enables to more effectively inhibit or facilitate the conductance of postsynaptic potentials (detonators or permissive synapses), than synapses located at less important points (which end up being considered as stimulatory or modulatory synapses).
 * at soma or directly at the axon hillock
 * at the nodes of Ranvier
 * close to the axon terminals
 * at the dendritic bifurcations at the necks of dendritic spines

Synapses at which a dendrite delivers a stimulus to another cell play a large part in communication between neurons that lie close together. Over small distances (several millimeters or less), electrical signals can be propagated passively (electrotonically), spreading from postsynaptic sites on the dendritic membrane where they are received, to presynaptic sites on the same dendritic membrane, where they control the transmitter release. Such neurons sometimes do not even possess an axon and do not conduct action potentials. In some cells, where the dendritic tree is large, separate parts of it can behave as more or less independent pathways for communication and for information processing. In other words, it behaves as mediator where it collectively processes (summates) and relays the signals between dendrites. Furthermore, the presence of voltage-gated ion channels in the dendritic membrane might enable the dendrites to conduct action potentials, consequently having a single neuron that can behave as a highly complex computational device.

Non-Channel-linked Receptors and Synaptic Modulation
Synapses with channel-linked receptors show immediate effects of a neurotransmitter, at defined location of transmission.

Non-channel-linked receptors allow for slow, complex, long-lasting effects, often spatially diffuse and acting on many cells, essentially comprising neuromodulation. The non-channel-linked receptors act by the same molecular mechanisms as the receptors for hormones and local chemical mediators: More than 50 neurotransmitters have been identified that act on non-channel-linked receptors. Some of them also bind to channel-linked receptors (such as acetylcholine).
 * Catalytic receptors: directly phosphorylate proteins inside the cell
 * G-protein-linked receptors - activation of GTP-binding regulatory protein, which activates or inactivates a membrane-bound enzyme (adenylate-cyclase → cAMP → protein kinase C → intracellular Ca2+ release) or regulates directly an ion channel.

The response, mediated by the non-channel-linked receptors takes typically hundreds of milliseconds or longer, usually because a series of enzymatic reactions must intervene between the initial signal and the ultimate response. One of the most important neuromodulators are monoamines.

Drugs designed to interfere with the synthesis, uptake, breakdown, or interact with particular subclasses of monoamine receptors have been proved to be valuable in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological diseases (Examples include: schizophrenia - blocking dopamine receptors, Parkinson's disease - increase in concentration of dopamine, severe depression - increase in concentration of norepinephrine or serotonin).

The neuropeptides are the largest family of neuromodulators. They appear to be particularly important in regulating feeling and drives, such as pain, pleasure, hunger, thirst, and sex. Neuropeptides are often secreted together with a non-peptide neurotransmitter.

The role of synaptic plasticity in memory
Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators released at synapses, besides relaying transient electrical signals, can also alter concentrations of intracellular messenger molecules, which activate enzymatic cascades that bring about lasting changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission. However, several major mechanisms are yet unknown in regards to how do these changes endure for weeks, months, or a lifetime in the face of the normal turnover of cell constituents.

Physiologically, memories are caused by changes in the capability of synaptic transmission from one neuron to the next as a result of previous neural activity. These changes cause new pathways to develop for transmission of signals through the neural circuits of the brain (i.e.: memory traces). Once they are established, they can be activated to reproduce the memories.

The repetitive use of a synapse might enhance the efficacy of that synapse if the discharge of the postsynaptic cell is correlated with a particular input signal. This means that conjunction of postsynaptic firing and the presynaptic input would be the requirement for strengthening specific connections. This hypothetical construct has only recently found concrete support in the studies of the mechanism underlying long-term potentiation.

Experiments in animals have shown that high-frequency (100-200 Hz) tetanic stimulation of Ia afferent fibers for several seconds was followed by an enduring increase in the ventral root responses to subsequent Ia volleys. The duration of this potentiation depends on the duration of the tetanus (the effect of 7 min. tetanus lasts for almost 15 mins, whereas a tetanus of 20 mins caused enhancement lasting up to 2 hours). Posttetanic potentiation (PTP) that lasts for hours might be a possible mechanism for short-term memory, though its dependence on prolonged bursts of synchronous high-frequency stimulation of afferents has no clear counterpart in learning paradigms. PTP seems to be an entirely presynaptic phenomenon that results of an activity-dependent calcium accumulation in presynaptic terminal, which leads to an increased transmitter release.

The ability of a cell to respond to a stimulus and the nature of that response are determined by the various voltage- and transmitter-dependent conductances in its membrane. Thus, the two possible synaptic mechanisms just described must somehow result from changes in post- and presynaptic membrane conductances:


 * 1) Pre-synaptically: conductance changes in the presynaptic terminal could alter the duration and/or amplitude of the action potential invading the terminal → affecting the coupling between the action potential and the release of neurotransmitter.


 * 1) Post-synaptically: at the postsynaptic site, additional or new receptors could be formed or receptors could be redistributed (as in the denervation supersensitivity, potassium conductance could decrease).

Most of the above changes are based on changes of activity of proteins (channels, protein kinases,etc). The synthesis of new proteins, initiated by the transcription of previously dormant DNA sequences may also change the nature of neuronal membrane, thus altering both pre- and postsynaptic function - result of activity of various second messengers (cyclic nucleotide, calmodulin, calcium).