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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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Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

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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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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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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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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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Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

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Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
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Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

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Hippocampal ripples down-regulate synapses.

Hiroaki Norimoto1,2, Kenichi Makino1, Mengxuan Gao1

  • 1Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 14, 2018
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Summary

Sleep sharp-wave ripples trigger synaptic depression, refining memory by reducing irrelevant activity. Blocking these ripples during sleep impairs memory formation and synaptic weight regulation.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

  • The precise role of sleep in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation is not fully understood.
  • Neuronal activity during sleep, particularly sharp-wave ripples, is hypothesized to influence synaptic changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal role of hippocampal sharp-wave ripples in synaptic plasticity during sleep.
  • To determine the impact of sharp-wave ripples on memory consolidation and synaptic weight regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mouse models to record and manipulate hippocampal sharp-wave ripples during slow-wave sleep states.
  • Employed techniques to silence sharp-wave ripples and assess subsequent effects on synaptic plasticity and memory recall.
  • Investigated the involvement of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in the observed synaptic down-regulation.

Main Results:

  • Hippocampal sharp-wave ripples were identified as intrinsic triggers for long-lasting synaptic depression.
  • Suppression of sharp-wave ripples during sleep prevented the natural down-regulation of synaptic weights.
  • Disruption of sharp-wave ripples led to impaired learning and memory consolidation.
  • Synaptic down-regulation was dependent on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activation and specific to certain input pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Sharp-wave ripples play a crucial role in refining memory engrams by weakening irrelevant neuronal connections during sleep.
  • These findings reveal a novel function for sharp-wave ripples in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory.
  • The results support the hypothesis that sleep actively modifies synaptic strength to optimize memory storage.