Neurons are complicated, but the basic functional concept is that synapses transmit electrical signals to the dendrites and cell body (input), and axons carry signals away (output). In one of many surprise findings, Northwestern University scientists have discovered that axons can operate in reverse: they can send signals to the cell body, too.
Article Reference:
Mark E J Sheffield, Tyler K Best, Brett D Mensh, William L Kath, Nelson Spruston. Slow integration leads to persistent action potential firing in distal axons of coupled interneurons. Nature Neuroscience, 2010; 14 (2): 200 DOI: 10.1038/nn.2728
Conventional Wisdom of How Neurons Operate Challenged: Axons Can Work in Reverse
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necnill reblogged this from newsbytes and added:
Mind. Blown. Shall be reading that journal article.
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