Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 5

Discuss an IPSP and an EPSP. How do they differ?

Step 1 of 4

The synaptic terminal of the neuron that conducts a signal (presynaptic neuron) connects to the dendrites of the next neuron (postsynaptic neuron) that receives the signal. At the synapse, the electrical signal cannot be conducted as such. Therefore, the electrical signal is converted into chemical signal with the help of chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters bind to the receptors on the postsynaptic dendrites and change the membrane permeability to selected ions, resulting into a postsynaptic potential. If the postsynaptic potential makes the cell interior of the postsynaptic neuron more negative, it is called inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP).