Specific and efficient synaptic interactions mediated by potassium ions

Specific physiological interactions among neurons are traditionally attributed to chemical and electrotonic synapses. In the present review we describe a specific synaptic potential that is mediated by K+. It is speculated that this mode of communication might be prevalent in the CNS and has not yet been identified as such in other systems, because the K+ synapse is very similar phenomenologically to chemical and electrotonic synapses. We describe the concept and some experimental manipulations needed to discern the K+ synapse.