When multiple, possibly even conflicting signals reach a neuron, the neuron evaluates the signals and may respond or not.This property is called
A) temporal summation.
B) spatial summation.
C) postsynaptic integration.
D) graded potentials.
E) EPSPs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Postsynaptic integration refers to the process by which a neuron evaluates multiple signals that it receives and decides whether to respond or not. This is a critical property of neurons, which ensures that only important signals trigger an action potential, while irrelevant or conflicting signals are ignored. Temporal summation and spatial summation are related mechanisms by which the strength of a neuron's response is determined by the frequency and location of the signals, respectively. Graded potentials and EPSPs both refer to the changes in a neuron's membrane potential that result from synaptic inputs. However, they do not capture the concept of post-synaptic integration that is specifically referred to in the question.

When Multiple, Possibly Even Conflicting Signals Reach a Neuron, the Neuron