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Neuronal Communication

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...

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.

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.

Electrical Synapses

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABA_A Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

Is neuronal communication with NG2 cells synaptic or extrasynaptic?

Paloma P Maldonado¹, Mateo Vélez-Fort, María Cecilia Angulo

¹Inserm U603 CNRS UMR 8154 Université Paris Descartes, France.

Journal of Anatomy

|March 1, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

NG2-expressing glial cells (NG2 cells) are key brain progenitors. This review explores their synaptic and extrasynaptic communication with neurons, clarifying controversies about their properties and neuronal inputs.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

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Published on: May 25, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Glial Cell Biology
Synaptic Transmission

Background:

NG2-expressing glial cells (NG2 cells) are crucial progenitors for oligodendrocytes in the postnatal brain.
NG2 cells are known to receive glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic inputs.
Existing research presents conflicting data regarding NG2 cell subpopulations, action potential firing, and neuronal input detection.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of Na(+) channel expression in discriminating NG2 cell subpopulations.
To review evidence for quantal neuronal release onto NG2 cells in white matter regions.
To discuss novel modes of extrasynaptic communication between neurons and NG2 cells.

Main Methods:

Analysis of Na(+) channel expression in NG2 cells.
Review of studies on quantal glutamate and GABA release onto NG2 cells.
Examination of extrasynaptic communication mechanisms like GABA spillover.

Main Results:

Na(+) channel expression levels do not reliably distinguish NG2 cell subpopulations in the somatosensory cortex.
NG2 cells can detect quantal glutamate release from unmyelinated axons, but the nature of release sites remains debated.
Extrasynaptic communication via GABA spillover occurs independently of direct GABAergic synaptic input.

Conclusions:

The heterogeneity of NG2 cells may not be solely defined by Na(+) channel expression.
Neuronal communication with NG2 cells involves both synaptic and diverse extrasynaptic mechanisms.
Further research is needed to elucidate the precise sites and modes of neuronal-glial communication in the brain.