Differential shunting of EPSPs by action potentials

Neurons encode information and communicate via action potentials, which are generated following the summation of synaptic events. It is commonly assum ed that action potentials reset the membrane potential completely, allowing another round of synaptic integration to begin. We show here that the cond uctances underlying the action potential act instead as a variable reset of synaptic integration. The strength of this reset is cell type-specific and depends on the kinetics, Location, and timing of the synaptic input. As a consequence, distal synapses. as well as inputs mediated by N-methyl-D-aspa rtate receptor activation, can contribute disproportionately to synaptic in tegration during action potential firing.