Influence of asymmetric attenuation of single and paired dendritic inputs on summation of synaptic potentials and initiation of action potentials

► Used NEURON software to model the passive and active properties of morphologically precise neurons. ► Examined effects of asymmetric voltage attenuation on summation of synaptic potentials and on action potential initiation. ► Results showed that the transfer voltages between a pair of dendritic sites were always equal. ► These transfer voltages provided equal contribution to the summation of synaptic currents and to action potential onset. ► The site of action potential onset differed according to input resistance, channel density and synaptic noise.