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Overview of Synapses

Overview of Synapses

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...

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.

Neural Circuits

Neural Circuits

Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...

Neuronal Communication

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Impact of functional synapse clusters on neuronal response selectivity.

Balázs B Ujfalussy¹, Judit K Makara²

¹Laboratory of Neuronal Signaling, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083, Budapest, Hungary. balazs.ujfalussy@gmail.com.

Nature Communications

|March 18, 2020

Summary

Synaptic clusters impact neuronal function when moderately large and structured. Local interactions likely drive cluster formation, influencing neuron output.

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Published on: January 10, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology

Evaluation of Synaptic Multiplicity Using Whole-cell Patch-clamp Electrophysiology

Published on: April 23, 2019

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: January 10, 2015

Area of Science:

Computational neuroscience
Neuronal plasticity
Dendritic integration

Background:

Synaptic clustering is hypothesized to modulate neuronal input-output transformation through local nonlinearities.
The in vivo effects of synaptic clusters on somatic membrane potential (sVm) and their formation mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To computationally investigate the impact of functional synaptic clusters on the sVm response of CA1 and L2/3 pyramidal neurons.
To elucidate the rules governing the formation of functional synaptic clusters in vivo.

Main Methods:

Development of a computational approach to simulate and measure the effects of synaptic clusters on neuronal models.
Utilized biophysical models of CA1 and L2/3 pyramidal neurons subjected to in vivo-like inputs.

Main Results:

Small, randomly connected synaptic clusters showed no significant impact on sVm.
Optimal clustering for state-dependent tuning required ~10-20 synapses per cluster with structured connectivity.
Global plasticity rules failed to generate functional clustering without nonlinear amplification of random clusters.

Conclusions:

Functional synaptic clusters require moderate size and structured connectivity to influence neuronal responses.
Local synaptic interactions are suggested as the primary mechanism for cluster formation.
Synaptic clustering plays a role in neuronal computation, particularly when organized and sufficiently large.