Final answer:
Temporal summation refers to the process where excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) add together when they occur in quick succession, making it more likely for the neuron to fire an action potential. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in neuronal communication and signal processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temporal Summation occurs when new excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) develop before previous ones have decayed. This is a process that takes place in the neurons of the brain and spinal cord, and it is critical for the integration of synaptic inputs. When multiple EPSPs are generated in rapid succession, they can overlap and add together, making it more likely that the neuron will reach its threshold and generate an action potential.
This resultant increase in voltage is a key element of neuronal communication and signal processing within the nervous system. Temporal summation can be contrasted with spatial summation, where EPSPs generated at different locations on the neuron combine to push the neuron over its action potential threshold. Both forms of summation are vital for the complex functioning of neuronal networks and are fundamental concepts in neuroscience.