What do dendrites and their synapses tell the neuron?

Abstract

This essay looks at the historical significance of four APS classic papers that are freely available online: Rall W. Distinguishing theoretical synaptic potentials computed for different soma-dendritic distributions of synaptic input. J Neurophysiol 30: 1138–1168, 1967 ( http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/30/5/1138 ). Rall W, Burke RE, Smith TG, Nelson PG, and Frank K. Dendritic location of synapses and possible mechanisms for the monosynaptic EPSP in motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 30: 1169–1193, 1967 ( http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/30/5/1169 ). Rall W and Shepherd GM. Theoretical reconstruction of field potentials and dendrodendritic synaptic interactions in olfactory bulb. J Neurophysiol 31: 884–915, 1968 ( http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/31/6/884 ). Segev I and Rall W. Computational study of an excitable dendritic spine. J Neurophysiol 60: 499–523, 1988 ( http://jn.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/60/2/499 ).