SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 29, 2025Quanta Magazine

How the Brain Balances Excitation and Inhibition

SMRTR summary

Brain neurons fall into two main categories—excitatory cells that trigger firing and inhibitory cells that prevent firing—and maintaining the right balance between them is crucial for healthy brain function. Scientists are discovering that inhibitory neurons play more active, specific roles than previously thought, while a third category of slower neuromodulatory neurons helps regulate timing and memory formation.

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