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Related Concept Videos

Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
Gap Junctions01:27

Gap Junctions

The cytoplasm of adjacent animal cells can exchange small molecules, ions, and secondary messengers via the communication channels which form the gap junctions. These junctions comprise a few hundred to thousands of molecular channels, each made of two halves, called the connexon hemichannel. A connexon is a hexamer of six transmembrane connexin proteins, which assemble radially, thus forming a pore or channel in the center. One connexon hemichannel docks with a corresponding connexon on the...
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...
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions01:14

Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions

The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another  cell. These cell junctions are classified  into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight Junctions
Tight...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Functional Calcium Imaging in Developing Cortical Networks
16:33

Functional Calcium Imaging in Developing Cortical Networks

Published on: October 22, 2011

Gap junctions in developing thalamic and neocortical neuronal networks.

Dragos Niculescu1, Christian Lohmann1

  • 1Department of Synapse and Network Development, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|July 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neurons communicate directly via gap junctions, which are crucial for brain development and function. This study integrates data on neuronal connectivity and gap junction properties in the developing thalamus and neocortex.

Keywords:
connexinelectrical synapsegap junctionsneocortexthalamus

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Direct neuronal communication via gap junctions has been known for a long time.
  • Gap junctions were initially thought to be simple conduits but are now understood to be tightly regulated.
  • Their roles in neuronal connectivity and function, especially during development, are increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To integrate current data on neuronal connectivity and gap junction properties.
  • To review recent findings on the functional implications of electrical connections in the developing brain.
  • To highlight the specific roles of gap junctions in the developing thalamus and neocortex.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and data integration.
  • Analysis of studies on gap junction subunit composition and biophysical properties.
  • Examination of developmental regulation of neuronal networks.

Main Results:

  • Gap junction connectivity is independently regulated in excitatory and inhibitory networks during development.
  • Electrical connections are vital for specific neuronal functions, including stimulus tuning in the visual system.
  • Diverse subunit compositions and electrical properties characterize gap junctions across brain areas.

Conclusions:

  • Gap junctions are critical, regulated components of neuronal communication, not just simple pathways.
  • Understanding gap junction dynamics is essential for comprehending brain development and function.
  • Further research into electrical connections offers insights into thalamocortical development.