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Related Concept Videos

Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
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Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Neuronal Microcircuits in Acute Brain Slices Using Paired Patch-Clamp Recordings
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Presynaptic and postsynaptic determinants of claustro-cortical connectivity.

Roberto de la Torre-Martínez1, Zach Chia2, Joseph Baxendale1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.

Current Biology : CB
|September 8, 2025
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Summary

The claustrum (CLA) influences brain activity through complex connections to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). This study reveals specific CLA neuron pathways that precisely control excitation and inhibition in the ACC, impacting cognitive functions.

Keywords:
5-HT3ANPYPVSOManterior cingulate cortexclaustrumfeedforward inhibitionin vivomicrocircuitmouseoptogenetics

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Synaptic organization
  • Cortical circuits

Background:

  • The claustrum (CLA) is a brain structure implicated in various behaviors due to its extensive cortical connections.
  • CLA projection neurons are glutamatergic, yet CLA exerts inhibitory effects on cortical targets, suggesting interneuron involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To dissect the synaptic organization of CLA projections to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in mice.
  • To understand the specific roles of different CLA neuron populations in modulating ACC activity.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo and ex vivo electrophysiology
  • Optogenetics in mice
  • Targeted stimulation of CLA neurons (CaMKIIa+, VGLUT2+) and CLA-ACC axons

Main Results:

  • Optogenetic stimulation evoked distinct excitatory and inhibitory responses in the ACC, varying by CLA neuron type and ACC layer.
  • CLA-ACC axons activated pyramidal neurons and four types of interneurons via monosynaptic connections.
  • Synaptic responses showed high specificity based on presynaptic CLA type, recipient cortical layer, and postsynaptic neuron type.

Conclusions:

  • The CLA-ACC pathway exhibits intricate synaptic organization, with interneurons showing the highest response specificity.
  • This complex connectivity explains the diverse and nuanced influence of the CLA on cortical activity and cognitive functions.