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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

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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.
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Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

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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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Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

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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.
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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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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Chemical Synapses01:26

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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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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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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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Inducing Dendritic Growth in Cultured Sympathetic Neurons
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How to grow a synapse.

Christoph Straub1, Bernardo L Sabatini1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Neuron
|April 19, 2014
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Structural long-term potentiation involves changes in postsynaptic terminal size and shape. New research illuminates the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways driving these activity-dependent synaptic alterations.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is crucial for learning and memory.
  • Changes in synaptic strength are often linked to structural modifications of the postsynaptic terminal.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms and signaling pathways responsible for structural long-term potentiation.
  • To understand how postsynaptic terminal morphology changes with synaptic activity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced imaging techniques to observe structural changes.
  • Employed molecular biology approaches to identify key signaling molecules.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific signaling pathways that regulate postsynaptic terminal remodeling.
  • Demonstrated a correlation between synaptic activity levels and terminal structural alterations.

Conclusions:

  • Structural long-term potentiation is a dynamic process regulated by specific molecular mechanisms.
  • Understanding these pathways provides insights into synaptic plasticity and neural circuit function.