<p>While model neurons like the leaky integrate and fire may use a simplification in which the neuron forgets all previous information when it emits a spike, in a biological neuron, the synapse and the soma are relatively electrically isolated from each other, so the voltage activity of the action potential does not make the synapse "forget" the EPSP.  Although see back propagating action potentials for a mechanism for somatic action potentials to affect dendritic processing.  (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8107777">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8107777</a>)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T06:04:31.023Z
2015-05-15T06:04:31.023Z
honi
<p>From some sources, I've read that excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) decay over time, which would imply that they aren't abolished by action potentials. However, other sources seem to indicate the opposite (although I may be misunderstanding them). Plus, the classical leaky-integrate-and-fire neuron model implies that EPSPs are abolished by action potentials (although this could well be a simplification). Does the refractory period of an action potential affect its originating EPSP? Or is it a separate phenomenon?</p>

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2015-05-13T15:05:06.407Z
This would probably be better suited for Bio.SE.
Josh
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2015-05-13T15:30:38.597Z
I'm okay with it, basic neuroscience seems within scope for us.
Christian Hummeluhr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-14T01:51:04.663Z
Could you add some references to,e.g., 'other sources'? Additionally, do you include action potentials in your definition of EPSPs or not?
AliceD
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2015-05-14T01:57:47.387Z
@ChristianHummeluhr - given your answer http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/966/neurobiology-rivalries-part-v-a-newer-hope I would tend to say that this question crosses the CogSci boundaries and I agree with Josh. This question can be grouped entirely under Biophysics which is, and probably should be non-existent here at CogSci. I am happy to answer, though, and happy to accept its inclusion here at CogSci. In that case I will create a Biophysics tag and add an answer to the Meta question regarding the outcome of this discussion.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-14T01:59:49.160Z
@Josh - I think this question could be a nice boundary-defining question regarding Neurobiology questions? http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/966/neurobiology-rivalries-part-v-a-newer-hope
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-14T06:12:27.817Z
@AliceD My reasoning is that "basic" neuroscience falls within a cognitive science, much like neural network questions do (i.e., anyone would learn about action potentials and EPSPs during their undergrad and could answer it with a bit of reading, unlike more involved bio/neuro questions). If you think this is actually an involved biophysical question, I may reconsider. We do not need a biophysics tag.
Christian Hummeluhr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-14T06:32:29.620Z
@ChristianHummeluhr - If basic neuroscience is CogSci, then this question should stay.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-14T07:57:11.347Z
@AliceD Great! I also agree with Josh that this is a good boundary question, and would upvote a Meta answer to that effect.
Christian Hummeluhr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T05:58:37.177Z
you all spend way too much effort policing what is and is not acceptable questions
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-15T22:42:38.373Z
@Josh I agree with Christian, basic neuroscience question are very much on-topic here.
Artem Kaznatcheev
<neuroscience><theoretical-neuroscience><neural-network>
Does an action potential abolish an excitatory postsynaptic potential?
visual-kinetic
# Does an action potential abolish an excitatory postsynaptic potential?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-13)

From some sources, I've read that excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) decay over time, which would imply that they aren't abolished by action potentials. However, other sources seem to indicate the opposite (although I may be misunderstanding them). Plus, the classical leaky-integrate-and-fire neuron model implies that EPSPs are abolished by action potentials (although this could well be a simplification). Does the refractory period of an action potential affect its originating EPSP? Or is it a separate phenomenon?

**Tags:** neuroscience, theoretical-neuroscience, neural-network

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This would probably be better suited for Bio.SE.  
> **username_2**: I'm okay with it, basic neuroscience seems within scope for us.  
> **username_3**: Could you add some references to,e.g., 'other sources'? Additionally, do you include action potentials in your definition of EPSPs or not?  
> **username_3**: @ChristianHummeluhr - given your answer http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/966/neurobiology-rivalries-part-v-a-newer-hope I would tend to say that this question crosses the CogSci boundaries and I agree with username_1. This question can be grouped entirely under Biophysics which is, and probably should be non-existent here at CogSci. I am happy to answer, though, and happy to accept its inclusion here at CogSci. In that case I will create a Biophysics tag and add an answer to the Meta question regarding the outcome of this discussion.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 - I think this question could be a nice boundary-defining question regarding Neurobiology questions? http://meta.cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/966/neurobiology-rivalries-part-v-a-newer-hope  
> **username_2**: @username_3 My reasoning is that "basic" neuroscience falls within a cognitive science, much like neural network questions do (i.e., anyone would learn about action potentials and EPSPs during their undergrad and could answer it with a bit of reading, unlike more involved bio/neuro questions). If you think this is actually an involved biophysical question, I may reconsider. We do not need a biophysics tag.  
> **username_3**: @ChristianHummeluhr - If basic neuroscience is CogSci, then this question should stay.  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Great! I also agree with username_1 that this is a good boundary question, and would upvote a Meta answer to that effect.  
> **username_4**: you all spend way too much effort policing what is and is not acceptable questions  
> **username_5**: @username_1 I agree with Christian, basic neuroscience question are very much on-topic here.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-05-15. Score: 5

While model neurons like the leaky integrate and fire may use a simplification in which the neuron forgets all previous information when it emits a spike, in a biological neuron, the synapse and the soma are relatively electrically isolated from each other, so the voltage activity of the action potential does not make the synapse "forget" the EPSP. Although see back propagating action potentials for a mechanism for somatic action potentials to affect dendritic processing. (<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8107777>)


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