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

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...
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.
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...
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.
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

[STAT1 gain-of-function mutation leading to disseminated <i>Talaromyces marneffei</i> infection combined with hemophagocytic syndrome: a case report].

Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases·2026
Same author

[Clinical characteristics and genetic spectrum of adults with primary ciliary dyskinesia].

Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases·2026
Same author

[Clinical cure and safe drug withdrawal in chronic hepatitis B].

Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology·2025
Same author

[Study on the current situation and influencing factors of uncivilized behavior in workplace encountered by nurses in Xianyang City].

Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases·2025
Same author

Trimethylamine Induced Chronic Kidney Injury by Activating the ZBP1-NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway.

Physiological research·2024
Same author

[Epidemiological and etiological characteristics of herpes pharyngitis in 3 prefectures in Jiangsu Province].

Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi·2024
Same journal

Tension on dsDNA bound to ssDNA-RecA filaments may play an important role in driving efficient and accurate homology recognition and strand exchange.

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
Same journal

Publisher's Note: Amplitude-phase coupling drives chimera states in globally coupled laser networks [Phys. Rev. E 91, 040901(R) (2015)].

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
Same journal

Erratum: Shapes of sedimenting soft elastic capsules in a viscous fluid [Phys. Rev. E 92, 033003 (2015)].

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
Same journal

Erratum: Attenuation of excitation decay rate due to collective effect [Phys. Rev. E 90, 022142 (2014)].

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
Same journal

Publisher's Note: Role of connectivity and fluctuations in the nucleation of calcium waves in cardiac cells [Phys. Rev. E 92, 052715 (2015)].

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
Same journal

Publisher's Note: Lattice Boltzmann approach for complex nonequilibrium flows [Phys. Rev. E 92, 043308 (2015)].

Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics·2016
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Two-Photon Polymerization 3D-Printing of Micro-scale Neuronal Cell Culture Devices
07:38

Two-Photon Polymerization 3D-Printing of Micro-scale Neuronal Cell Culture Devices

Published on: June 7, 2024

Three synaptic components contributing to robust network synchronization.

Z Wang1, H Fan, K Aihara

  • 1College of Information Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|July 7, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals a mechanism for robust neural synchronization using three synaptic components. These components, particularly voltage-dependent synaptic currents, drive neurons toward synchrony for stable network activity.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology
10:52

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

Published on: April 23, 2019

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and &ldquo;Neuron Ball&rdquo; Culture
10:17

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Published on: August 2, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Two-Photon Polymerization 3D-Printing of Micro-scale Neuronal Cell Culture Devices
07:38

Two-Photon Polymerization 3D-Printing of Micro-scale Neuronal Cell Culture Devices

Published on: June 7, 2024

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology
10:52

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

Published on: April 23, 2019

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and &ldquo;Neuron Ball&rdquo; Culture
10:17

Presynapse Formation Assay Using Presynapse Organizer Beads and “Neuron Ball” Culture

Published on: August 2, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience
  • Neural Dynamics

Background:

  • Robust synchronized neural activity is prevalent in biological systems.
  • Analytical mechanisms for robust neural synchronization remain poorly understood.
  • Heterogeneous external drive currents and conductance-based synapses are common in neural networks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To formalize an analytical mechanism for robust neural synchronization.
  • To identify key synaptic components contributing to synchronization robustness.
  • To investigate the role of voltage-dependent synaptic properties in stable synchronization.

Main Methods:

  • Formalization of three synaptic components influencing neuron firing within a volley.
  • Analysis of membrane potential differences based on external drive currents.
  • Investigation of voltage-dependent synaptic current effects, especially inhibition.

Main Results:

  • Three synaptic components were identified that promote robust synchronization.
  • Voltage-dependent properties of inhibitory synaptic currents are crucial for synchrony.
  • Later-firing neurons experience smaller inhibitions, leading to earlier firing in the next cycle.
  • Optimal parameter sets for robust network synchronization at specific frequencies were explored.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides an analytical framework for understanding robust neural synchronization.
  • Synaptic mechanisms, particularly those involving voltage-dependent currents, are key drivers of synchrony.
  • This work elucidates the physical basis for stable synchronized neural network activity.