TY - JOUR
T1 - Synaptic mechanisms for coding timing in auditory neurons
AU - Trussell, Laurence O.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Neurons in the cochlear ganglion and auditory brain stem nuclei preserve the relative timing of action potentials passed through sequential synaptic levels. To accomplish this task, these neurons have unique morphological and biophysical specializations in axons, dendrites, and nerve terminals. At the membrane level, these adaptations include low-threshold, voltage-gated potassium channels and unusually rapid-acting transmitter-gated channels, which govern how quickly and reliably action potential threshold is reached during a synaptic response. Some nerve terminals are remarkably large and release large amounts of excitatory neurotransmitter. The high output of transmitter at these terminals can lead to synaptic depression, which may itself be regulated by presynaptic transmitter receptors. The way in which these different cellular mechanisms are employed varies in different cell types and circuits and reflects refinements suited to different aspects of acoustic processing.
AB - Neurons in the cochlear ganglion and auditory brain stem nuclei preserve the relative timing of action potentials passed through sequential synaptic levels. To accomplish this task, these neurons have unique morphological and biophysical specializations in axons, dendrites, and nerve terminals. At the membrane level, these adaptations include low-threshold, voltage-gated potassium channels and unusually rapid-acting transmitter-gated channels, which govern how quickly and reliably action potential threshold is reached during a synaptic response. Some nerve terminals are remarkably large and release large amounts of excitatory neurotransmitter. The high output of transmitter at these terminals can lead to synaptic depression, which may itself be regulated by presynaptic transmitter receptors. The way in which these different cellular mechanisms are employed varies in different cell types and circuits and reflects refinements suited to different aspects of acoustic processing.
KW - Glutamate receptors
KW - Plasticity
KW - Potassium channels
KW - Synapses
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U2 - 10.1146/annurev.physiol.61.1.477
DO - 10.1146/annurev.physiol.61.1.477
M3 - Review article
C2 - 10099698
AN - SCOPUS:0033038107
SN - 0066-4278
VL - 61
SP - 477
EP - 496
JO - Annual Review of Physiology
JF - Annual Review of Physiology
ER -