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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.

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Related Experiment Video

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Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Gender differences in human cortical synaptic density.

L Alonso-Nanclares1, J Gonzalez-Soriano, J R Rodriguez

  • 1Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Avda Doctor Arce, 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain. aidil@cajal.csic.es

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 10, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Men exhibit higher synaptic density in the temporal neocortex compared to women. This microanatomical difference in the brain may underlie observed cognitive gender differences in brain activity.

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Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

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Published on: October 6, 2017

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08:06

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Quantifying the Heterogeneous Distribution of a Synaptic Protein in the Mouse Brain Using Immunofluorescence
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Quantifying the Heterogeneous Distribution of a Synaptic Protein in the Mouse Brain Using Immunofluorescence

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

  • Cognitive functions show gender-based variations, but the underlying anatomical and functional brain differences are not fully understood.
  • Research has primarily focused on the cerebral cortex for structural correlates of cognitive sex differences, neglecting synaptic-level investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential gender differences in synaptic density within the human temporal neocortex.
  • To explore whether synaptic density variations could serve as a microanatomical basis for cognitive sex differences.

Main Methods:

  • Employed stereological methods combined with correlative light and electron microscopy.
  • Quantified synaptic density across all cortical layers of the temporal neocortex in male and female subjects.

Main Results:

  • Men demonstrated a statistically significant higher synaptic density than women.
  • This difference in synaptic density was observed across all cortical layers of the temporal neocortex.

Conclusions:

  • A notable difference in synaptic density exists between men and women in the temporal neocortex.
  • This microanatomical disparity in synaptic organization may contribute to functional gender differences in brain activity and cognition.