excitatory and inhibitory populations

Excitatory and inhibitory populations refer to groups of brain cells (neurons) that influence each other’s activity. Excitatory neurons promote activity, encouraging connected neurons to fire and send signals. Inhibitory neurons do the opposite; they reduce or halt activity in other neurons, helping to balance and refine brain signals. Think of excitatory neurons as “accelerators” and inhibitory neurons as “brakes.” This balance between excitation and inhibition is essential for proper brain functions like perception, learning, and controlling movements. Together, they create dynamic, stable neural networks that process information efficiently.