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Action potential bursts enhance transmitter release at a giant central synapse
Author(s) -
Zhang Bo,
Sun Liang,
Yang YiMei,
Huang HongPing,
Zhu FeiPeng,
Wang Li,
Zhang XiaoYu,
Guo Shu,
Zuo PanLi,
Zhang Claire X.,
Ding JiuPing,
Wang LuYang,
Zhou Zhuan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.200154
Subject(s) - biophysics , bursting , ampa receptor , neurotransmission , neuroscience , synapse , excitatory postsynaptic potential , chemistry , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biology , nmda receptor , receptor , biochemistry
Non‐technical summary Information is coded in the form of bursts of electrical impulses propagating among nerve cells which form complex networks in the brain. Effective communication between these cells depends on the ability for cross‐talk among them through release and reception of chemical substances (neurotransmitters). This study uses the hearing system as a model to show that the patterns of electrical impulses can dramatically impact the amount of neurotransmitter released. When presented in short clusters, these impulses are more effective in releasing neurotransmitters than those composed of the same number of impulses but given continuously. Our findings may potentially help us understand how nerve cells code and transfer information in the mammalian brain, and in particular, how auditory neurons localize the sound source in space.