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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...
Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Rewiring Neuronal Circuits: A New Method for Fast Neurite Extension and Functional Neuronal Connection
10:26

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Phase coupling by synaptic spread in chains of coupled neuronal oscillators.

T L Williams1

  • 1Physiology Department, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, United Kingdom.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 23, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Neural systems acting as coupled oscillators can generate traveling waves. A simple mechanism of asymmetric synaptic coupling between oscillator units explains phase delays independent of frequency and coupling strength.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Many neural systems function as coupled oscillators exhibiting specific phase relationships.
  • Rhythmic activation patterns, like those for swimming in fish, show a consistent phase delay along the body axis.
  • This phase delay creates a traveling wave of body curvature with a wavelength similar to the animal's body length.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a simple mechanism for phase coupling in chains of identical oscillators.
  • To investigate how asymmetric synaptic coupling influences the generation of traveling waves.
  • To determine if this mechanism can explain frequency-independent phase lags observed in neural systems.

Main Methods:

  • Postulating a model where unit oscillators are connected by synapses with reduced strength in neighboring segments.
  • Implementing asymmetric coupling in the rostral and caudal directions within the model.
  • Analyzing the resulting phase lag in relation to coupling strength and frequency.

Main Results:

  • Asymmetric coupling in oscillator chains generates traveling waves of activity.
  • The intersegmental phase lag is independent of coupling strength across a wide range.
  • For lamprey spinal cord central pattern generators, this coupling results in a frequency-independent phase lag.

Conclusions:

  • A simple, repeated asymmetric synaptic coupling mechanism can explain observed phase coupling in neural oscillator arrays.
  • This model provides a potential explanation for frequency-independent phase lags in biological systems.
  • The findings offer insights into the fundamental principles of neural pattern generation and locomotion control.