EPHAPSE Meaning and
Definition
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Ephapse is a term derived from the Greek word "éphapsis," meaning "contact" or "connection." In the context of neuroscience, ephapse refers to a form of communication or interaction between adjacent neurons in the nervous system. It is a synaptic phenomenon that occurs when there is an abnormal increase in the level of excitation or inhibition between neuronal connections.
Typically, synaptic communication occurs through chemical neurotransmitters being released from the presynaptic neuron and binding to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. However, ephaptic interactions involve the electrical coupling between neurons that are in close proximity to each other. This can happen when the electrical currents generated by one neuron influence the activity of neighboring neurons, either amplifying or inhibiting their firing rates.
The concept of ephapse helps to explain the various alterations in neuronal firing patterns and signal transmission that can occur in certain neurological conditions. It has been implicated in phenomena such as epilepsy, where abnormal electrical synchronization between neurons can result in seizures. It is also believed to play a role in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, where disrupted ephaptic interactions may contribute to the dysfunction of neural circuits.
Further research is still needed to fully understand the functional significance and physiological mechanisms underlying ephaptic interactions in the nervous system. Nonetheless, studying ephapses provides valuable insights into the complex and intricate ways in which neurons communicate with each other, and how dysregulation of these interactions can impact neurological function.
Common Misspellings for EPHAPSE
- ephases
- wphapse
- sphapse
- dphapse
- rphapse
- 4phapse
- 3phapse
- eohapse
- elhapse
- e-hapse
- e0hapse
- epgapse
- epbapse
- epnapse
- epjapse
- epuapse
- epyapse
- ephzpse
- ephspse
- ephwpse
Etymology of EPHAPSE
The word "ephapse" is derived from the Greek word "ephaptein", which means "to shine upon" or "to contact". It is formed by combining the prefix "epi-" (meaning "upon" or "to") and the verb "haptein" (meaning "to touch" or "to come into contact with"). Thus, "ephapse" can be understood as the act or process of touching or making contact upon something.
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