Question

In one experiment, Katherine observes that one of her cultured neurons responds to a rapid series of inputs at a single synapse by producing an action potential. In another experiment, she demonstrates that another cell responds to inputs at multiple synapses by producing an action potential. Katherine’s first experiment demonstrates ______________ and her second experiment demonstrates _______________.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answers are "Temporal Summation" and "Spatial Summation".

Explanation:

The experiment explained in the question is performed to observe action potentials and postsynaptic potentials in the neurons and how they affect them to behave differently.

In the first experiment, Temporal Summation is observed which occurs when one presynaptic neuron fires because of the changes in it's axon terminal.

In the second experiment, Spatial Summation is observed which occurs when ,unlike the temporal summation, more than one presynaptic neuron release neurotransmitters to cause the postsynaptic neuron to fire as a result.

I hope this answer helps.