Synapses
Welcome to the synapses tutorial! Neurons connect with each other primarily through specialized structures known as synapses, forming a vast and intricate network that enables communication throughout the nervous system. A synapse is the junction between two neurons, specifically between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron. Synapses can also form between neurons and other cell types, like muscle cells.
Definition
Welcome to the synapses tutorial! Neurons connect with each other primarily through specialized structures known as synapses, forming a vast and intricate network that enables communication throughout the nervous system. A synapse is the junction between two neurons, specifically between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron. Synapses can also form between neurons and other cell types, like muscle cells.
Types of Synapses
There are two synapse types: 1. Electrical synapses involve direct physical connections between neurons through the connexons in the gap junctions. These junctions allow ions and small molecules to pass directly from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron, enabling rapid and bidirectional signaling. 2. Chemical Synapses are more common and involve the release of neurotransmitters. In these synapses, the action potential (electrical signal) reaching the axon terminal triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles into the synaptic cleft (the gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons). These neurotransmitters then bind to ionotropic receptor molecules on the postsynaptic neuron's membrane, leading to the initiation or inhibition of a new action potential in the postsynaptic neuron
Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses
In FEAGI, synapses are primarily modeled after chemical synapses, enabling both excitatory and inhibitory interactions
