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Related Concept Videos

Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

9.8K
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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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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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...
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The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

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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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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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Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

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Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
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Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters01:29

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

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When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
11:02

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

Published on: January 4, 2010

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Stabilizing synapses.

David Blum1, Luísa V Lopes2

  • 1Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Inserm UMR-S1172, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille Cedex, France.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 4, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Adenosine plays a key role in shaping new brain connections during development. This molecule helps determine the final structure and function of nascent synapses.

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Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
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Last Updated: Oct 14, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Synapse formation is a critical process during brain development.
  • The precise mechanisms regulating synapse maturation and stabilization are not fully understood.
  • Adenosine, a neuromodulator, is known to influence neuronal activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of adenosine in regulating the fate of nascent synapses.
  • To elucidate how adenosine signaling impacts synapse development and plasticity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized in vivo and in vitro models of brain development.
  • Employed genetic manipulation to alter adenosine signaling pathways.
  • Performed electrophysiological recordings and advanced imaging techniques to assess synaptic function and structure.

Main Results:

  • Adenosine signaling was found to be crucial for the stabilization of newly formed synapses.
  • Specific adenosine receptor subtypes were identified as key mediators of this process.
  • Disruption of adenosine signaling led to aberrant synapse development and altered neuronal network activity.

Conclusions:

  • Adenosine acts as a critical regulator of synapse development, influencing their long-term fate.
  • Targeting adenosine pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders affecting synaptic function.