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

Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

6.8K
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...
6.8K
Synaptic Signaling01:12

Synaptic Signaling

80.3K
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.
80.3K
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

2.0K
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
2.0K
The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

134.2K
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.
134.2K
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

11.0K
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...
11.0K
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

58.9K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
58.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The utility of a composite endpoint for tracking disease progression in Lewy body dementia.

Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.)·2026
Same author

Electrical and chemical synapses share similar organizational principle.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Increased buprenorphine dosing frequency was not associated with increased severity of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM·2026
Same author

Uncovering the electrical synapse proteome in retinal neurons via in vivo proximity labeling.

eLife·2026
Same author

Integrating new habits and practices data and homecare products into the Creme RIFM aggregate exposure model.

Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP·2026
Same author

Global burden of cerebral small vessel disease determined from large MRI studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society·2026
Same journal

Dynorphinergic neuroadaptations in the islands of Calleja: implications for alcohol use disorder.

Neuroscience letters·2026
Same journal

Differential vulnerability of cochlear nuclei to Lmx1 deficiency: abnormal patterning and implications for auditory circuitry.

Neuroscience letters·2026
Same journal

Role of nNOS/sGC pathway in the insular cortex in control of cardiovascular, autonomic and corticosterone responses to restraint stress in rats.

Neuroscience letters·2026
Same journal

Jak1 inhibition reduces acute allodynia induced by specific upstream cytokines in rats: implications for the onset of Jak1 pain modulation.

Neuroscience letters·2026
Same journal

Glucocorticoids-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice: oral ingestion of corticosterone or hydrocortisone - A comparative study.

Neuroscience letters·2026
Same journal

Data-driven clustering of prefrontal activation identifies functional phenotypes under prioritized dual-task walking conditions in Parkinson's disease.

Neuroscience letters·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
07:13

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

7.4K

Design principles of electrical synaptic plasticity.

John O'Brien1

  • 1McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., MSB 7.024, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Neuroscience Letters
|September 13, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Electrical synapses, crucial for rapid neural communication via gap junctions, exhibit extensive plasticity across multiple timescales. This adaptability allows neural networks to dynamically alter function in response to environmental cues.

Keywords:
Circadian rhythmConnexinElectrical synapsePhosphatasePhosphorylation

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

13.8K
Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
11:02

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

11.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 23, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
07:13

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

7.4K
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

13.8K
Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
11:02

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

11.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Biology
  • Computational Neuroscience

Background:

  • Electrical synapses, formed by gap junctions, are fundamental for rapid, bidirectional neuronal communication.
  • They complement chemical synapses, enabling critical functions like coordinated neuron activity and network modulation.
  • Electrical synapses are ubiquitous across animal nervous systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight principles governing electrical coupling and synapse plasticity.
  • To explore the dynamic nature of electrical synapses in neural networks.
  • To provide examples of electrical synapse plasticity, particularly from retinal networks.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on electrical synapses and neuronal plasticity.
  • Analysis of mechanisms underlying electrical synapse function and modulation.
  • Case studies focusing on plasticity in retinal neural networks.

Main Results:

  • Electrical synapses provide rapid, bidirectional communication essential for various neural functions.
  • These synapses exhibit significant plasticity, enabling neural networks to adapt to changing environments.
  • Plasticity occurs across multiple timescales (milliseconds to days) via distinct mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Electrical synapse plasticity is a key mechanism for dynamic neural network remodeling and function.
  • Understanding electrical synapse properties is crucial for comprehending neural circuit behavior.
  • Retinal networks serve as a valuable model for studying electrical synapse plasticity and its implications.