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Related Concept Videos

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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Neuron Structure01:30

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Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
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The Synapse02:47

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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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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...
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A typical nerve cell comprises three main components: the cell body, dendrites, and the axon. The cell body, also known as the soma or perikaryon, serves as the central biosynthetic hub housing a nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm containing organelles commonly found in most cells. Notably, Nissl bodies, clusters of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes responsible for protein synthesis, are distinctive features of the neuronal cell body. As neurons age, aggregates of a brown pigment...
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Updated: Nov 21, 2025

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings
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Structure and function of a neocortical synapse.

Simone Holler1, German Köstinger1, Kevan A C Martin1

  • 1Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers linked synapse size to transmission strength in mouse brains. This finding helps connect neuronal structure to brain function and reveals neocortical synapses are more complex than previously understood.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic Plasticity
  • Connectomics

Background:

  • Electron microscopy has enabled detailed reconstruction of neural circuits.
  • Understanding the relationship between synaptic structure and function remains a key challenge in neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between synapse size and physiological transmission strength.
  • To determine the number of neurotransmitter release sites at neocortical synapses.

Main Methods:

  • Combined slice electrophysiology with correlated light and high-resolution electron microscopy.
  • Analyzed synaptic contacts between synaptically connected pyramidal neurons in the mouse somatosensory cortex.

Main Results:

  • A linear relationship was found between synapse size and transmission strength.
  • Quantal analysis indicated an average of at least 2.7 neurotransmitter release sites per synapse.
  • Neocortical synapses exhibit multivesicular release, suggesting greater complexity.

Conclusions:

  • Synapse size is a reliable predictor of synaptic strength, bridging structural and functional connectomics.
  • Neocortical synapses are more complex computational units than previously modeled.
  • Findings expand the understanding of computational power within cortical microcircuits.