eksitatorisiin

Eksitatorisiin is a Finnish adjective form used in scientific contexts to describe phenomena that increase neuronal excitability. It derives from eksitatorinen "excitatory" and appears in noun phrases like eksitatorisiin signaaleihin, eksitatorisiin synapseihin or eksitatorisiin post-synaptisiin potentiaaleihin. The form is part of Finnish morphology and is used to indicate related to excitatory processes, in contrast to inhibitory (inhibitorisiin).

In neuroscience, excitatory processes are mediated primarily by the neurotransmitter glutamate, which activates ion channels such as AMPA, NMDA, and kainate receptors. Their activation allows positively charged ions to enter the postsynaptic cell, producing an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and increasing the likelihood of action potential firing. Excitatory synapses are often located on dendritic spines and contribute to the integration of synaptic inputs through temporal and spatial summation, shaping the neuron's output.

The term eksitatorisiin is used in contexts describing excitatory aspects of neural signaling, particularly when discussing plural or case-specific constructions in Finnish. It is commonly contrasted with inhibitory processes, which reduce excitability through inhibitory neurotransmitters like GABA and glycine and produce inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Together, excitatory and inhibitory inputs determine the firing patterns of neurons and the dynamics of neural circuits. The expression eksitatorisiin thus appears in neurophysiology, pharmacology, and psychology writings to specify excitatory mechanisms and signals.