Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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...
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.
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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...
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...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Visual learning at fast and slow timescales is driven by distinct plasticity rules in primate inferotemporal cortex.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Synaptic pruning, myelination and the emergence of psychiatric disorders in late adolescence.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Theory of temporal pattern learning in echo state networks.

PNAS nexus·2026
Same author

A Spatially Structured Spiking Network Model of Beta Traveling Waves and Their Attenuation in Motor Cortex.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Climbing fibres recruit disinhibition to enhance Purkinje cell calcium signals.

Nature·2026
Same author

Corticothalamic communication for action coordination in a skilled motor behavior.

Nature neuroscience·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Recording and Analyzing Multimodal Large-Scale Neuronal Ensemble Dynamics on CMOS-Integrated High-Density Microelectrode Array
09:44

Recording and Analyzing Multimodal Large-Scale Neuronal Ensemble Dynamics on CMOS-Integrated High-Density Microelectrode Array

Published on: March 8, 2024

How connectivity, background activity, and synaptic properties shape the cross-correlation between spike trains.

Srdjan Ostojic1, Nicolas Brunel, Vincent Hakim

  • 1Institut des Systemes Complexes Paris Ile-de-France and Laboratoire de Physique Statistique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris-Diderot, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France. srdjan@lps.ens.fr

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|August 21, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Understanding how neurons interact is key. This study reveals that background neural activity significantly impacts functional connectivity, as measured by cross-correlation functions (CCFs), as much as direct synaptic strength.

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings
10:24

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: January 10, 2015

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
08:08

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Published on: June 24, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Recording and Analyzing Multimodal Large-Scale Neuronal Ensemble Dynamics on CMOS-Integrated High-Density Microelectrode Array
09:44

Recording and Analyzing Multimodal Large-Scale Neuronal Ensemble Dynamics on CMOS-Integrated High-Density Microelectrode Array

Published on: March 8, 2024

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings
10:24

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: January 10, 2015

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
08:08

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Published on: June 24, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience
  • Neural Circuitry

Background:

  • Neuronal functional interactions are commonly assessed using cross-correlation functions (CCFs) between spike trains.
  • Quantifying the influence of synaptic parameters, network connectivity, and background activity on CCFs is crucial for understanding neural communication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively investigate how synaptic parameters, connectivity patterns, and background activity shape cross-correlation functions (CCFs) between two neurons.
  • To differentiate between shared inputs and direct synaptic connections based on CCF symmetry.
  • To determine the impact of background synaptic noise on CCF amplitude and neuronal response properties.

Main Methods:

  • Analytical calculations and numerical simulations were employed to study the cross-correlation functions (CCFs).
  • Systematic examination of synaptic parameters (peak conductance, decay time, reversal potential) and connectivity patterns.
  • Analysis of the influence of background synaptic inputs on neuronal firing statistics and response modulation.

Main Results:

  • CCF symmetry can distinguish between shared inputs and direct synaptic connections, though exceptions exist.
  • Background synaptic noise variations modulate CCF amplitude as significantly as changes in synaptic strength.
  • Postsynaptic neuron spiking regularity strongly influences CCF amplitude.

Conclusions:

  • Background neural activity is a potent modulator of functional neuronal interactions, comparable to direct synaptic strength.
  • Spiking regularity of postsynaptic neurons plays a critical role in shaping CCF amplitude.
  • These findings suggest a flexible mechanism for modulating functional interactions within neural networks.