When several excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) arrive at the axon hillock from different dendritic locations and then depolarize the postsynaptic cell to threshold for an action potential, this is an example of
A) temporal summation.
B) spatial summation.
C) a normal action potential.
D) an action potential with an abnormally high peak of depolarization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spatial summation occurs when multiple EPSPs from different locations on the neuron's dendrites combine to reach the threshold at the axon hillock, triggering an action potential.

When Several Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials (EPSPs) Arrive at the Axon