neurons typicallyjoin axon to dendrite. how could this information be used to explain why some neurons need to receive input from many cells in order to "fire" a message?

Question

(this called a neuronal pooling)

Answer 1

Um... it uses dendrite to receive signals (inputs) from many other cells because dendrite has many branches of nerve endings. Axons are joined to the dendrite from the head body so the information (message) can be facilitated to the head body.

This is what I think, at least.

Answer 2

It depends on the limen for firing of the neuron and whether the neuron is also receiving impulses from other neurons that increase this limen to make it harder to fire. it is the combined influence from all the influencing neurons that determines if the single neuron will fire or not.

However, strictly speaking, the axons and dendrites (or cell bodies) are not "joined." They are separated by a small space — the synapse.

I searched Google under the key words "neuronal pooling" to get these possible sources:

http://rmoskowitz.tripod.com/neural.html
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=639744
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_motor_neuron

You may need to use the <Find> command for "pool."

In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search. Also see http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/.

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.