Ultraweak signals can cause synaptic depression and adaptation.
Synaptic depression at conventional synapses is usually caused by strong or prolonged stimuli, like tetanic bursts of afferent fiber discharge at high frequencies. In this issue of Neuron, Dunn and Rieke report that, in the retina, even the weakest stimuli, single photons, can lead to synaptic depression at ribbon-type synapses and adaptation of neuronal output to ambient light levels.
Demb
Jonathan B
JB
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
von Gersdorff
Henrique
H
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017785:Photons; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects