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Related Concept Videos

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...
Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
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.
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Modeling Biological Membranes with Circuit Boards and Measuring Electrical Signals in Axons: Student Laboratory Exercises
13:56

Modeling Biological Membranes with Circuit Boards and Measuring Electrical Signals in Axons: Student Laboratory Exercises

Published on: January 18, 2011

Electrical synapses: rectification demystified.

Eve Marder1

  • 1Volen Center and Biology Department MS013, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. marder@brandeis.edu

Current Biology : CB
|January 14, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electrical synapses can rectify, allowing current flow in only one direction. This rectification occurs when different hemichannel properties from each side form the gap junction.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Electrical synapses facilitate direct cell-to-cell communication via gap junctions.
  • Some electrical synapses exhibit rectification, a directional current flow.

Discussion:

  • Rectification in electrical synapses arises from asymmetric contributions of hemichannels to the gap junction.
  • Differences in hemichannel properties, such as conductance or gating, can lead to directional current transmission.

Key Insights:

  • The study proposes a mechanism for electrical synapse rectification based on hemichannel heterogeneity.
  • Asymmetric hemichannel composition dictates the directionality of electrical signal propagation.

Outlook:

  • Understanding hemichannel contributions to rectification is crucial for modeling neural circuits.
  • Further research can explore the functional implications of rectifying electrical synapses in various physiological contexts.