Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

Neuron Structure

Neuron Structure

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.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to...

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...

Circuit Terminology

Circuit Terminology

An electrical network is a system composed of interconnected elements, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and voltage or current sources. Unlike a circuit, an electrical network does not necessarily form a closed path. In other words, while all circuits can be considered networks due to their interconnected nature, not every network qualifies as a circuit.
A circuit, on the other hand, is also an interconnected system of electrical elements but must contain one or more closed paths.

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...

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Tirzepatide for weight and behavior management in a patient with Smith-Magenis syndrome.

JCEM case reports·2026

Same author

A multimodal adaptive optical microscope for in vivo imaging from molecules to organisms.

Nature methods·2026

Same author

Topographic CA1 input shapes subicular spatial coding.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Author Correction: Rewiring an olfactory circuit by altering cell-surface combinatorial code.

Nature·2026

Same author

Author Correction: Repulsions instruct synaptic partner matching in an olfactory circuit.

Nature·2026

Same author

Rewiring an olfactory circuit by altering cell-surface combinatorial code.

Nature·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Published on: April 15, 2015

Architectures of neuronal circuits.

¹Department of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 13, 2021

Summary

This review explores neuronal circuits, detailing common architectural plans and synaptic connectivity patterns across species. Understanding these neural circuits is key to deciphering brain function and behavior.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Evolutionary Neuroscience

Background:

Individual neurons form the basis of the nervous system.
Neurons interact within complex neuronal circuits with specific synaptic connections to process information.

Purpose of the Study:

To review common circuit motifs and architectural plans in diverse brain regions and species.
To consider the developmental assembly and evolutionary origins of these circuit architectures.
To bridge the gap between individual neuron biology and whole-brain function.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on neuronal circuits.
Analysis of common circuit motifs and architectural plans.
Consideration of developmental and evolutionary aspects.

More Related Videos

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

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Published on: June 7, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Design, Surface Treatment, Cellular Plating, and Culturing of Modular Neuronal Networks Composed of Functionally Inter-connected Circuits

Published on: April 15, 2015

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

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Published on: June 7, 2024

Main Results:

Identification of common circuit motifs and architectural plans across various brain regions and animal species.
Insights into how these architectures assemble during development.
Exploration of the evolutionary pathways of neural circuits.

Conclusions:

Understanding synaptic connectivity patterns is crucial for comprehending neural computations.
This knowledge advances our understanding of the neural basis of behavior.
Insights may inspire new developments in artificial intelligence.