Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1973 Jan;228(1):27–40. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010070

Synaptic frequency response: the influence of sinusoidal changes in stimulation frequency on the amplitude of the end-plate potential

E M Landau, Y Lass
PMCID: PMC1331224  PMID: 4346704

Abstract

1. The synaptic response to frequency modulated trains of stimuli was investigated at the neuromuscular junction of the frog. The frequency of stimulation was usually varied sinusoidally about a carrier frequency of ca. 25 impulses per sec (Hz).

2. The post-synaptic response to sinusoidally modulated trains of nerve stimuli was found to grow almost linearly when the variations in input frequency were increased up to 60% of the carrier frequency.

3. The synaptic frequency response (gain and phase) was reminiscent of that of a low-pass filter, best transmitting slow variations in input frequency.

4. The synaptic filter characteristics could not be explained by the post-synaptic cable properties, but were attributed to presynaptic facilitation processes.

Full text

PDF
27

Images in this article

34Fig. 5
on p.34

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. DEL CASTILLO J., KATZ B. Quantal components of the end-plate potential. J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):560–573. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005129. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. DEL CASTILLO J., KATZ B. The effect of magnesium on the activity of motor nerve endings. J Physiol. 1954 Jun 28;124(3):553–559. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005128. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dodge F. A., Jr, Knight B. W., Toyoda J. Voltage noise in Limulus visual cells. Science. 1968 Apr 5;160(3823):88–90. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3823.88. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FATT P., KATZ B. An analysis of the end-plate potential recorded with an intracellular electrode. J Physiol. 1951 Nov 28;115(3):320–370. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004675. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hubbard J. I., Jones S. F., Landau E. M. The effect of temperature change upon transmitter release, facilitation and post-tetanic potentiation. J Physiol. 1971 Aug;216(3):591–609. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009542. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kuno M., Miyahara J. T. Analysis of synaptic efficacy in spinal motoneurones from 'quantum' aspects. J Physiol. 1969 Apr;201(2):479–493. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008768. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kuno M. Quantum aspects of central and ganglionic synaptic transmission in vertebrates. Physiol Rev. 1971 Oct;51(4):647–678. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1971.51.4.647. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MARTIN A. R. A further study of the statistical composition on the end-plate potential. J Physiol. 1955 Oct 28;130(1):114–122. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1955.sp005397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MOUNTCASTLE V. B., POGGIO G. F., WERNER G. THE RELATION OF THALAMIC CELL RESPONSE TO PERIPHERAL STIMULI VARIED OVER AN INTENSIVE CONTINUUM. J Neurophysiol. 1963 Sep;26:807–834. doi: 10.1152/jn.1963.26.5.807. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mallart A., Martin A. R. An analysis of facilitation of transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog. J Physiol. 1967 Dec;193(3):679–694. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008388. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mallart A., Martin A. R. The relation between quantum content and facilitation at the neuromuscular junction of the frog. J Physiol. 1968 Jun;196(3):593–604. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008525. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Matthews P. B., Stein R. B. The sensitivity of muscle spindle afferents to small sinusoidal changes of length. J Physiol. 1969 Feb;200(3):723–743. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008719. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. McKean T. A., Poppele R. E., Rosenthal N. P., Terzuolo C. A. The biologically relevant parameter in nerve impulse trains. Kybernetik. 1970 Jan;6(5):168–170. doi: 10.1007/BF00273961. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Poppele R. E., Terzuolo C. A. Myotatic reflex: its input-output relation. Science. 1968 Feb 16;159(3816):743–745. doi: 10.1126/science.159.3816.743. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Stein R. B. The information capacity of nerve cells using a frequency code. Biophys J. 2008 Dec 31;7(6):797–826. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(67)86623-2. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Terzuolo C. A., Bayly E. J. Data transmission between neurons. Kybernetik. 1968 Sep;5(3):83–85. doi: 10.1007/BF00288897. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES