What is the summing up of the excitatory and inhibitory signals by a neuron called?Multiple Choiceintegrationadditionpolarizationdepolarizationfiring

Understanding the Question

The question asks for the term that describes the process by which a neuron sums up the excitatory and inhibitory signals it receives.

Analyzing the Options

1. Integration - This refers to the process of combining multiple signals, which is relevant in the context of neurons processing excitatory and inhibitory input.
2. Addition - While this can refer to summing values, it is not a term specifically used in neuroscience for neuron activity.
3. Polarization - This typically refers to the difference in charge across a neuron's membrane, not specifically to the summation of signals.
4. Depolarization - This is the process of reducing the voltage difference across the neuron's membrane but does not refer specifically to the sum of signals.
5. Firing - This refers to the action potential occurring when a neuron sends a signal, not the summation of inputs.

Final Answer

The correct answer is integration. This term specifically describes how neurons combine excitatory and inhibitory signals to determine whether to fire an action potential.