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GABAergic inhibition refers to the process by which gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, reduces neuronal excitability and prevents overstimulation of neural circuits. This mechanism is crucial for maintaining the balance between excitation and inhibition in the brain, thereby regulating mood, anxiety, and seizure susceptibility.
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Inhibitory synapses are specialized connections between neurons that decrease the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential, primarily through the release of neurotransmitters like GABA and glycine. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain, which is essential for proper neural circuit function and preventing disorders such as epilepsy.
Excitatory-inhibitory balance refers to the dynamic equilibrium between excitatory and inhibitory signals in the brain, crucial for maintaining normal neural function and information processing. Disruptions in this balance can lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders, highlighting its importance in brain health and disease.
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Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another, playing a crucial role in shaping everyday functions and behaviors. They influence a wide range of physical and psychological processes, including mood, sleep, and cognition, and imbalances can lead to various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses, the connections between neurons, to strengthen or weaken over time in response to increases or decreases in their activity. This process is fundamental to learning and memory, as it allows the brain to adapt to new information and experiences by altering neural circuits.
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Homeostatic plasticity is a regulatory mechanism in the nervous system that maintains stable neural activity despite changes in external conditions or internal parameters. It ensures that neurons remain within a functional range by adjusting their synaptic strengths and intrinsic excitability in response to prolonged changes in network activity.
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Cognitive function refers to the mental processes that allow humans to carry out any task, encompassing aspects such as perception, memory, reasoning, and decision-making. Understanding Cognitive function is crucial for identifying how the Brain supports various intellectual abilities and how these can be affected by factors like aging, injury, or disease.
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Neuronal excitability refers to the ability of neurons to respond to stimuli and convert them into nerve impulses, primarily through the regulation of ion channels and membrane potential. This fundamental property is crucial for the initiation and propagation of action potentials, enabling communication within neural networks and the execution of complex brain functions.
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Gate Control Theory proposes that the perception of pain is not solely the result of direct activation of pain fibers, but is modulated by a 'gate' mechanism in the spinal cord that can increase or decrease pain signals before they reach the brain. This theory suggests that psychological factors, such as attention and emotions, can influence the experience of pain by affecting the gate's opening and closing.
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The suppressive function refers to the mechanisms or processes that inhibit or reduce the activity of certain biological, psychological, or social systems to maintain balance and prevent overactivity. This function is essential for regulating complex systems by preventing excessive responses that could lead to dysfunction or harm.
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Lateral inhibition is a neural mechanism in which interconnected neurons inhibit their neighbors, enhancing contrast and sharpness in sensory perception. This process is crucial in visual systems, where it helps to accentuate edges and improve the detection of spatial patterns.
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Surround suppression is a neural mechanism in the visual system where the response to a stimulus is inhibited by the presence of surrounding stimuli, enhancing contrast and aiding in edge detection. This process is crucial for visual perception, allowing the brain to focus on relevant stimuli by reducing the influence of irrelevant background information.
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Visual masking is a phenomenon where the perception of one visual stimulus (the target) is hindered by the presence of another stimulus (the mask) that appears shortly before or after it. This process is crucial for understanding temporal aspects of visual processing and has implications for theories of attention, consciousness, and visual perception.
An inhibitory post-synaptic potential (IPSP) is a kind of synaptic potential that makes a post-synaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential by hyperpolarizing the membrane. This hyperpolarization is typically caused by the opening of ion channels that allow negatively charged ions to enter the cell or positively charged ions to exit, increasing the membrane potential's negativity.
Excitatory and inhibitory signals are fundamental to neural communication, with excitatory signals increasing the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential and inhibitory signals decreasing that likelihood. The balance between these signals is crucial for proper brain function, affecting processes such as learning, memory, and behavior.
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Motor block is a condition where nerve signals responsible for muscle movement are inhibited, often resulting from regional anesthesia techniques. It is a critical consideration in surgical procedures to ensure patient immobility and comfort while minimizing potential complications related to nerve function and muscle control.
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GABAergic interneurons are a crucial component of the brain's inhibitory system, releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to regulate the activity of neural circuits and maintain the balance between excitation and inhibition. Their dysfunction is implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, highlighting their importance in brain health and disease.
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