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The Synapse

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.

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

Synaptic Signaling

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 Signaling

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.

Chemical Synapses

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 Synapses

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

Published on: July 20, 2022

Synaptic transmission: excitatory autapses find a function?

John M Bekkers¹

¹John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. John.Bekkers@anu.edu.au

Current Biology : CB

|April 17, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Excitatory autapses, a neuron

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

Microtransplantation of Synaptic Membranes to Reactivate Human Synaptic Receptors for Functional Studies

Published on: July 20, 2022

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology

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Published on: April 23, 2019

Fast Micro-iontophoresis of Glutamate and GABA: A Useful Tool to Investigate Synaptic Integration

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Published on: July 31, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Biology

Background:

Autapses are self-connections in neurons with poorly understood functions.
This study investigates the role of excitatory autapses.

Discussion:

Excitatory autapses may form a positive-feedback loop.
This loop could sustain neuron electrical activity.

Key Insights:

The study proposes a novel function for excitatory autapses.
These structures contribute to persistent neuronal firing.

Outlook:

Further research is needed to fully elucidate autaptic mechanisms.
Understanding autapses could offer insights into neural circuit dynamics.