A dual synaptic effect on hair cells in Hermissenda.
Type A photorecptors can produce an initial hyperpolarizing wave followed by a delayed long-lasting increase in firing which is usually accompanied by a small depolarizing wave. The initial hyperpolarizing wave arises from an increase in conductance while the depolarizing wave was shown to arise from a decrease in conductance. The data presented indicate that both effects produced by the type A photoreceptors in ipsilateral hair cells are synaptic.
D000818:Animals; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008974:Mollusca / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission