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Related Concept Videos

Chemical Synapses01:26

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 Synapses01:26

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...
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.
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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication
16:38

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication

Published on: June 6, 2012

A bionics chemical synapse.

Surachoke Thanapitak1, Christofer Toumazou

  • 1Division of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK. st706@ic.ac.uk

IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems
|July 16, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents CMOS circuits mimicking brain chemical synapses, including AMPA, NMDA, and GABA receptors. These biomimetic circuits demonstrate efficient, low-power operation for neurotransmitter sensing and signal processing.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Chemical synapses are crucial for neural information processing.
  • Existing electronic models often lack biological realism or efficiency.
  • Mimicking synaptic function in silicon is key for advanced neuromorphic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and implement CMOS circuits for key excitatory (AMPA, NMDA) and inhibitory (GABA) chemical synapses.
  • To develop a glutamate sensor using a modified ISFET.
  • To validate circuit performance against mathematical models and assess power efficiency.

Main Methods:

  • Current-mode CMOS circuit design for AMPA, NMDA, and GABA receptors.
  • Utilizing a modified Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistor (ISFET) with immobilized glutamate oxidase for glutamate detection.
  • Electrical signal representation for GABAergic neurotransmission.
  • Mathematical modeling and circuit simulations.
  • Chip fabrication in 0.35-μm AMS CMOS technology.

Main Results:

  • Successful implementation of biomimetic chemical synapse circuits for glutamate and GABA.
  • Measured results from the fabricated circuits closely matched simulation predictions.
  • Achieved a total power consumption of 168.3 μW for the chip.
  • The chip occupied a total area of 3 mm².

Conclusions:

  • The developed CMOS circuits effectively emulate the function of biological chemical synapses.
  • The integrated glutamate sensor demonstrates reliable sensing capabilities.
  • The low power consumption and compact area make these circuits suitable for neuromorphic applications.