If a postsynaptic neuron receives an excitatory and an inhibitory message at the same time, what happens?
A) An action potential will occur in the postsynaptic neuron because of the excitatory message.
B) An action potential will occur in the postsynaptic neuron because of the inhibitory message.
C) The excitatory and the inhibitory messages cancel each other out.
D) Reuptake is less likely to occur because the excitatory and inhibitory messages cancel the reuptake mechanism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an excitatory and inhibitory message arrive simultaneously at the postsynaptic neuron, they cancel each other out, leading to no activation of an action potential. This phenomenon is known as synaptic integration, and it is crucial in regulating neural communication and preventing overfiring or underfiring of neurons. Reuptake, on the other hand, is a mechanism by which neurotransmitters are taken back up into the presynaptic neuron, and it is not affected by the presence of both excitatory and inhibitory messages.

If a Postsynaptic Neuron Receives an Excitatory and an Inhibitory