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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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

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: May 25, 2026

High Resolution Quantitative Synaptic Proteome Profiling of Mouse Brain Regions After Auditory Discrimination Learning

High Resolution Quantitative Synaptic Proteome Profiling of Mouse Brain Regions After Auditory Discrimination Learning

Published on: December 15, 2016

SynaptomeDB: an ontology-based knowledgebase for synaptic genes.

Mehdi Pirooznia¹, Tao Wang, Dimitrios Avramopoulos

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, MD, USA. mpirooz1@jhmi.edu

Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)

|January 31, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed SynaptomeDB, an integrated database for synaptic genes and proteins. This resource aids in understanding brain function and neuropsychiatric disorders by consolidating crucial synapse information.

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High Resolution Quantitative Synaptic Proteome Profiling of Mouse Brain Regions After Auditory Discrimination Learning

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genomics
Proteomics

Background:

The synapse is crucial for brain function and implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Genomic and proteomic studies of the synapse are vital for understanding brain dysfunction.
A comprehensive, integrated resource for synaptic information is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To create an integrated database for retrieving and annotating genes encoding synaptic components.
To consolidate diverse data sources related to synaptic genes and proteins.

Main Methods:

Development of SynaptomeDB, an integrated database.
Annotation of genes encoding synaptic components, including neurotransmitters, receptors, and structural proteins.

Main Results:

SynaptomeDB provides a unified resource for synaptic genes and proteins.
The database integrates various complex data sources for synaptic research.
Facilitates retrieval and annotation of genes critical to synaptic function.

Conclusions:

SynaptomeDB addresses the need for a comprehensive synaptic resource.
This database will advance research into brain function and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Enables integrated analysis of genomic and proteomic data related to the synapse.