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Graded Potential

Graded Potential

Graded potentials are localized fluctuations in the cell membrane's electrical charge, commonly found in the dendrites of neurons. The magnitude of these potential changes depends on the strength of the initiating stimulus. In a membrane at its resting potential, a graded potential signifies a voltage shift either above -70 mV or below -70 mV.
Graded potentials fall into two categories: depolarizing and hyperpolarizing. Depolarizing graded potentials typically occur when sodium (Na+) or...

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...

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....

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Voltage-sensitive Dye Recording from Axons, Dendrites and Dendritic Spines of Individual Neurons in Brain Slices

Voltage-sensitive Dye Recording from Axons, Dendrites and Dendritic Spines of Individual Neurons in Brain Slices

Published on: November 29, 2012

The dendritic engram.

George Kastellakis¹, Simone Tasciotti^1,2, Ioanna Pandi^1,2

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Greece.

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

|August 14, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Dendrites, the branches of neurons, play a crucial role in memory formation and recall. This review proposes a new view of memory engrams, highlighting dendritic branches as fundamental units of memory storage.

Keywords:

dendrites engram memory modeling plasticity

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Voltage-sensitive Dye Recording from Axons, Dendrites and Dendritic Spines of Individual Neurons in Brain Slices

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Published on: November 29, 2012

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Biology
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Dendrites are increasingly recognized for their role in memory encoding and recall.
They possess unique computational capabilities, including non-linear integration of synaptic inputs and local protein synthesis.
These functions enable dendrites to act as a secondary computational layer within neurons and as fundamental units of plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

To review experimental and computational evidence supporting a dendritic perspective on the memory engram.
To propose that non-linear dendritic branches serve as elementary units of memory.
To discuss the implications of this dendritic engram concept for learning and memory research.

Main Methods:

Review of existing behavioral, cellular, molecular, and computational studies.
Analysis of findings related to dendritic function in memory processes.
Synthesis of evidence to support a novel theoretical framework.

Main Results:

Dendrites integrate synaptic inputs non-linearly, supporting local plasticity and computation.
Dendritic branches can be considered fundamental units of plasticity and memory.
This perspective reframes the physical representation of memories (memory engrams) as dendritic structures.

Conclusions:

Dendrites are integral components of the memory engram, acting as elementary memory units.
A dendritic view of memory engrams offers new insights into learning and memory mechanisms.
Future research should further explore the role of dendritic computation and plasticity in memory formation and recall.