IPSPistä

IPSP stands for inhibitory postsynaptic potential. It is a transient hyperpolarization or the stabilization of the membrane potential following the release of neurotransmitters from a presynaptic neuron. This hyperpolarization makes it less likely for the postsynaptic neuron to fire an action potential. IPSPs are crucial for regulating neuronal activity and processing information within the nervous system.

IPSPs are generated when neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane that are linked to ion channels permeable to negatively charged ions, such as chloride ions (Cl-), or when they open channels that allow the efflux of positively charged ions like potassium ions (K+). This influx of negative charge or efflux of positive charge makes the inside of the neuron more negative, thus hyperpolarizing it.

Common neurotransmitters that mediate IPSPs include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine. These inhibitory neurotransmitters play vital roles in processes like motor control, sensory processing, and learning. The balance between excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and IPSPs determines whether a neuron will reach its threshold for firing an action potential. This interplay is fundamental to the complex computations performed by neural circuits.