Why Is Neuronal Excitability Important?

Neuronal excitation is necessary for normal brain development, but it predisposes the neonatal brain to seizures. Seizures in the newborn are usually a sign of acute underlying brain injury, but a minority of neonates may have epilepsy as the cause of their seizures.

Why is electrical excitability important to neurons?

Excitability is critical to neuron survival. Through effects on resting membrane potential, activity of potassium channels has a significant impact on neuronal cell death and survival; this is of particular importance during CNS development.

Which increases neuronal excitability?

The increased voltage-dependent sodium current could decrease action potential threshold and increase the probability of action potential generation in response to synaptic excitation, thus increasing the excitability of the neuron.