Dynamics of intrinsic electrophysiological properties in spinal cord neurones

The spinal cord is engaged in a wide variety of functions including generat ion of motor acts, coding of sensory information and autonomic control. The intrinsic electrophysiological properties of spinal neurones represent a f undamental building block of the spinal circuits executing these tasks. The intrinsic response properties of spinal neurones - determined by the parti cular set and distribution of voltage sensitive channels and their dynamic non-linear interactions - show a high degree of functional specialisation a s reflected by the differences of intrinsic response patterns in different cell types. Specialised, cell specific electrophysiological phenotypes grad ually differentiate during development and are continuously adjusted in the adult animal by metabotropic synaptic interactions and activity-dependent plasticity to meet a broad range of functional demands, (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.