Neural excitability refers to the intrinsic capacity of a neuron or nerve cell to generate and propagate an electrical impulse, known as an action potential, in response to a stimulus. This fundamental property of the nervous system is determined by the balance of ion flow across the neuronal membrane, which is tightly regulated by voltage-gated ion channels and neurotransmitter activity. In the context of hormonal health, various hormones, including sex steroids and thyroid hormones, can modulate neural excitability, thereby influencing mood, cognitive function, and the overall central nervous system response to stimuli. Alterations in this excitability are central to conditions like epilepsy and certain psychiatric disorders.
Origin
The term combines ‘Neural’ (relating to nerves or the nervous system) and ‘Excitability’ (the quality of being readily aroused or responsive to stimulation). This concept is foundational to electrophysiology and neuroscience, originating from the 18th and 19th-century discoveries of electrical phenomena in biological tissues.
Mechanism
The mechanism of neural excitability is governed by the rapid, controlled opening and closing of voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels in the neuronal membrane. An adequate depolarizing stimulus must reach the threshold potential, triggering the influx of sodium ions that generates the action potential. Repolarization is rapidly achieved by the efflux of potassium ions. Hormones can affect this process by altering the expression, density, or function of these ion channels or by modulating the synthesis and release of excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmitters, thus fine-tuning the neuron’s responsiveness.
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