Editing Interneuron (section)

{{short description|Neurons that are not motor or sensory}}
{{Infobox neuron
| name = Interneuron 
| image = [[File:Interneuron566-01.svg|class=skin-invert-image|250px]]
|caption = Cartoon of a [[locust]] interneuron that integrates information about wind in order to control wing [[motor neuron]]s during flight<ref>Pearson, K. G. and Wolf, H. Connections of hindwing tegulae with
flight neurones in the locust, Locusta migratoria. J. Exp. Biol. 135:
381-409, 1988</ref>
|location=[[Nervous system]]}}

'''Interneurons''' (also called '''internuncial neurons''',  '''association neurons''', '''connector neurons''', or '''intermediate neurons''') are [[neurons]] that are not specifically [[motor neuron]]s or [[sensory neuron]]s.  Interneurons are the central nodes of [[neural circuit]]s, enabling communication between sensory or motor neurons and the [[central nervous system]] (CNS).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/types-neurons |title=Types of neurons - Queensland Brain Institute - University of Queensland |format= |date=9 November 2017 |accessdate=}}</ref> They play vital roles in [[reflex]]es, [[neuronal oscillations]],<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0167-8760(00)00173-2 |pmid=11102670 |title=Inhibition-based rhythms: Experimental and mathematical observations on network dynamics |journal=International Journal of Psychophysiology |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=315–36 |year=2000 |last1=Whittington |first1=M.A |last2=Traub |first2=R.D |last3=Kopell |first3=N |last4=Ermentrout |first4=B |last5=Buhl |first5=E.H |citeseerx=10.1.1.16.6410 }}</ref> and [[neurogenesis]] in the adult mammalian brain.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Interneurons can be further broken down into two groups: '''local interneurons''' and '''relay interneurons'''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Carlson |first=Neil R. |title=Physiology of Behavior |url=https://archive.org/details/physiologybehavi00carl_811 |url-access=limited |publisher=Pearson Higher Education |year=2013 |page=[https://archive.org/details/physiologybehavi00carl_811/page/n48 28] |isbn=978-0-205-23939-9 |edition=11th}}</ref> Local interneurons have short axons and form circuits with nearby neurons to analyze small pieces of information.<ref name="Kandel, E.R. 2000 p. 25">{{cite book |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-last=Kandel |editor2-first=James |editor2-last=Schwartz |editor3-first=Thomas |editor3-last=Jessell |year=2000 |title=Principles of Neural Science |edition=4th |location=New York City, New York |publisher=McGraw Hill Companies |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780838577011/page/25 25] |isbn=978-0-8385-7701-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780838577011/page/25 }}</ref> Relay interneurons have long axons and connect circuits of neurons in one region of the brain with those in other regions.<ref name="Kandel, E.R. 2000 p. 25" /> However, interneurons are generally considered to operate mainly within local brain areas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kepecs |first1=Adam |last2=Fishell |first2=Gordon |title=Interneuron Cell Types: Fit to form and formed to fit |journal=Nature |year=2014 |volume=505 |issue=7483 |pages=318–326 |publisher=Nature, 2014 HHS Public Access pp 10, 28|doi=10.1038/nature12983 |pmid=24429630 |pmc=4349583 }}</ref> The interaction between interneurons allows the brain to perform complex functions such as [[learning]] and [[decision-making]].