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Related Concept Videos

The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

132.8K
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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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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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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Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

4.9K
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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Aging01:26

Aging

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Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae
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Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

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Physiological aging at striatal synapses.

John P Walsh1, Garnik Akopian1

  • 1Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Journal of Neuroscience Research
|June 26, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Aging impairs basal ganglia function, specifically corticostriatal synapses, reducing synaptic plasticity. This review explores age-related changes in synaptic physiology and mitochondrial function.

Keywords:
agingcalciumcorticostriataldopaminestriatumsynaptic plasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • The basal ganglia are crucial for motor control and skill learning.
  • Aging significantly impacts neural processing, affecting movement and cognition.
  • Mike Levine's research has been foundational in understanding basal ganglia physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of aging on basal ganglia processing.
  • To focus on single-cell and synaptic physiology changes with age.
  • To discuss age-related alterations in corticostriatal synaptic plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature, including early studies by Levine and collaborators.
  • Analysis of age-related changes in synaptic potentiation.
  • Discussion of molecular and cellular mechanisms affecting synaptic function.

Main Results:

  • Aging reduces both short-term and long-term synaptic potentiation at corticostriatal synapses.
  • Age-related changes in calcium homeostasis, vesicle cycling, dopamine modulation, and NMDA receptor function contribute to impaired plasticity.
  • Mitochondrial aging is implicated in age-induced synaptic dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Aging profoundly affects corticostriatal synaptic function, leading to reduced plasticity.
  • Multiple cellular mechanisms underlie age-related synaptic deficits in the basal ganglia.
  • Understanding these changes is vital for addressing age-related neurological disorders.