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Overview of Synapses

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...

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.

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...

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...

Integration of Synaptic Events

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Synapse development in health and disease.

Jan Elizabeth Melom¹, J Troy Littleton

¹Department of Biology, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar St. 46-3251, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.

Current Opinion in Genetics & Development

|February 1, 2011

Summary

Synaptic pathways are crucial for brain development and function. Genetic mutations affecting these pathways are linked to neurological and mental disorders like autism and schizophrenia.

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An Engulfment Assay: A Protocol to Assess Interactions Between CNS Phagocytes and Neurons

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Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

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Published on: October 6, 2017

Single Synapse Indicators of Glutamate Release and Uptake in Acute Brain Slices from Normal and Huntington Mice

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An Engulfment Assay: A Protocol to Assess Interactions Between CNS Phagocytes and Neurons

An Engulfment Assay: A Protocol to Assess Interactions Between CNS Phagocytes and Neurons

Published on: June 8, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Neurological diseases are increasingly linked to genetic factors affecting synaptic function.
Synaptic pathways are essential for brain development, stability, and overall function.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the hypothesis that molecular pathways of synaptic growth, development, and stability are disrupted in various mental disorders.
To highlight the critical role of understanding synaptogenesis in unraveling the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

Review of recent genetic insights into neurological diseases.
Analysis of molecular pathways involved in synapse formation and stabilization.
Examination of the link between inherited mutations and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Main Results:

Synapse formation is a complex process involving protein interactions, scaffolding, signaling, cytoskeleton reorganization, and endosomal trafficking.
Inherited mutations perturbing these synaptogenic processes are implicated in autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disability.

Conclusions:

Understanding the fundamental biology of synaptogenesis is vital for elucidating the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Disruptions in synaptic pathways represent a key area for research into mental health conditions.