Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Neural Circuits

Neural Circuits

Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.

Neuronal Communication

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

Neural Regulation

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.

Integration of Synaptic Events

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Context-Sensitive Processing in a Model Neocortical Pyramidal Cell With Two Sites of Input Integration.

Neural computation·2025

Same author

Cellular psychology: relating cognition to context-sensitive pyramidal cells.

Trends in cognitive sciences·2024

Same author

Musculoskeletal Issues in Pediatric Burn Patients.

Seminars in plastic surgery·2024

Same author

Cellular mechanisms of cooperative context-sensitive predictive inference.

Current research in neurobiology·2024

Same author

Dysfunctions of cellular context-sensitivity in neurodevelopmental learning disabilities.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2024

Same author

Sirenomelia: Review of a Rare Syndrome with Case Report, Review of Anatomy, and Thoughts on Management.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery·2022

Same journal

The cognitive foundations of children's culture.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Let the kids play: Children's folklore, Newell's paradox, and the triviality barrier.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Variable cultural acquisition costs may explain contextual variation in peer cultures.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

What's special about peer cultures? The opportunity for disagreement.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

The adaptive role of peer culture is shaped by risk landscapes.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Hidden cultures: How parental control shapes children's cultural adaptation in East Asian societies.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

Published on: March 4, 2012

Neuronal inference must be local, selective, and coordinated.

William A Phillips¹

¹Psychology Department, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom. wap1@stir.ac.uk

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences

|May 14, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Coordinated selectivity in neural circuits preserves life. Broad contextual gain-controlling interactions guide local activities, enhancing learning and processing for better neural function.

More Related Videos

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Large-scale Reconstructions and Independent, Unbiased Clustering Based on Morphological Metrics to Classify Neurons in Selective Populations

Large-scale Reconstructions and Independent, Unbiased Clustering Based on Morphological Metrics to Classify Neurons in Selective Populations

Published on: February 15, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

Published on: March 4, 2012

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Large-scale Reconstructions and Independent, Unbiased Clustering Based on Morphological Metrics to Classify Neurons in Selective Populations

Large-scale Reconstructions and Independent, Unbiased Clustering Based on Morphological Metrics to Classify Neurons in Selective Populations

Published on: February 15, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Neural Circuits

Background:

Life preservation and enhancement rely on coordinated selectivity within local neural circuits.
Narrow receptive-field selectivity is essential for avoiding the curse-of-dimensionality in neural processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functions and mechanisms of broad coordinating contextual gain-controlling interactions.
To understand how these interactions guide learning and processing in local neural circuits.

Main Methods:

The study examines the role of gain-controlling interactions in neural processing.
Analysis of how broad contextual signals influence local neural circuit activity.

Main Results:

Local neural activities can be rendered coherent and relevant through these interactions.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for addressing challenges in neural processing.

Conclusions:

Coordinated selectivity, facilitated by contextual gain-controlling interactions, is vital for neural circuit function.
Further research into these interactions is necessary for advancing our understanding of the brain.