Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It distinguishes between "tonic" interneurons that tamp down network activity and "phasic" interneurons that react more to excitatory neurons.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

The team found that the phasic inhibitory interneurons become stimulated by lots of input of the neurotransmitter glutamate from the excitatory neurons and vigorously spike, or fire.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2024

By contrast, tonic firing describes the slow and steady activity of these neurons when there are no surprises; it is background activity interspersed with phasic bursts.

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2023

The role of DANs in self-paced movement has mostly been attributed to their tonic activity, whereas phasic changes in DAN activity have been linked to reward prediction2,3.

From Nature • Jan. 30, 2018

Since they are rapidly adapting or phasic, the action potentials generated quickly decrease and eventually cease.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015