Acclimatisation (neurons)

Acclimatisation is the process by which the nervous system fails to respond to a stimulus, as a result of the repeated stimulation of a transmission across a synapse. Acclimatisation is believed to occur when the synaptic knob of the presynaptic neuron runs out of vesicles containing neurotransmitters due to overuse over a short period of time.

A synapse that has undergone acclimatisation is said to be fatigued. Hocking, S, et al, (2008), OCR Biology A2, Harlow: Heinemann, pg. 20

Acclimatisation is said to be responsible for 'getting used to' background noises and smells.