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The Synapse

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.

Chemical Synapses

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 Synapses

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...

Electrical Synapses

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...

Synaptic Signaling

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...

Synaptic Signaling

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization

Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization

Published on: May 12, 2017

Phase separation at the synapse.

Xudong Chen¹, Xiandeng Wu¹, Haowei Wu¹

¹Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.

Nature Neuroscience

|February 5, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Liquid-liquid phase separation organizes cellular components into biological condensates. This review explores how phase separation shapes synaptic function and its potential role in psychiatric disorders.

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Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Brain Membrane Fractionation: An Ex Vivo Approach to Assess Subsynaptic Protein Localization

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Published on: May 12, 2017

Subcellular Fractionation for the Isolation of Synaptic Components from the Murine Brain

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Published on: September 14, 2022

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals

Published on: May 25, 2011

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Neuroscience
Biochemistry

Background:

Cells utilize liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form biological condensates, organizing molecular machinery.
Synaptic transmission relies on molecular assemblies in presynaptic and postsynaptic sites, potentially formed by LLPS.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of LLPS in forming synaptic molecular clusters.
To highlight LLPS in synaptic development, signaling, and psychiatric disorders.
To discuss challenges and opportunities in synaptic phase separation biology.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent developments in phase separation and synaptic biology.

Main Results:

LLPS contributes to the formation of dense synaptic molecular clusters.
These condensed clusters have unique roles in synaptic development and signaling.
Aberrant LLPS in synapses may link to dysfunctional signaling in psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

Phase separation is a key mechanism for organizing synaptic function.
Dysregulation of synaptic phase separation may underlie psychiatric conditions.
Further research into LLPS in synaptic biology offers therapeutic potential.