a neural mechanism wherein an urge is propagated by two consecutive postsynaptic potentials neither of which is effective or intense enough on their own to elicit a reaction. The partial depolarization elicited by the first PSP persists for a few milliseconds and is capable, with the additive impact of the second PSP, to generate an above-threshold depolarization effective enough to induce an action potential.
Cite this page: N., Sam M.S., "TEMPORAL SUMMATION," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 29, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/temporal-summation/ (accessed March 21, 2023).
