There are many kinds of synapses in the nervous system, but I assume you're talking about the most commonly discussed type: the chemical synapse. These synapses join nerve cells (called neurons) and allow them to communicate.
Communication across a chemical synapse is called synaptic transmission. It occurs when electrical activity (called an action potential) in the first cell triggers the release of a chemical signal (called a neurotransmitter) across the synapse. The neurotransmitter travels across the synapse by a process of diffusion, ultimately reaching its target, the second cell. There, the neurotransmitter binds a special type of protein molecule called a neurotransmitter receptor, which changes its shape in response to binding the neurotransmitter. This shape change results in a series of subsequent changes in the second cell. These subsequent changes result in alterations in the electrical activity of the second cell.
The gist of synaptic transmission is that it allows the electrical activity in one nerve cell to influence the electrical activity of another.
Neurotransmitters are molecules that travel from the synapses of one neuron to the dendrites of another neuron, activating channels on the second neuron that allow an influx of ions to rush in and start an impulse within the second neuron.
she sneezed with the thundering force of a hurricane!
Neurotransmitters are the chemical medium through which the signals move from one neuron to the next at the synapses. This is called neurotransmission and the way it is done is through electrochemical processes. A chemical message from other neurons, through dendrites causes a nerve impulse. This travels down the Axon to the terminal buttons at the end. This then releases the neurotransmitters which send a message to the next neuron. The neuron that sends the message is the pre-synaptic neuron, and the one that receives it is the postsynaptic neuron. Each neurotransmitter has a specific effect on a specific circuit. They do not all work with every receptor. This is a complicated subject to try to explain in a short statement! I have probably confused you by now.
A group of nerve cells is known as a neuron. Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system and are responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body to facilitate communication between different parts of the body. In the brain, neurons work together to process information, form memories, and regulate various bodily functions.
The combination of a neuron and the muscle fibers it associates with is called a motor unit. Motor units work together to produce movement by having the neuron stimulate the muscle fibers it innervates to contract.
Cocaine and heroin don't act on synapses. Heroin acts on the opioid receptors of neurons. Cocain acts primarily on the dopamine receptors. These are different structures on the surface on neuron cells. They work sort of like switches. Chemicals like heroin flip the switch on or off, affecting the behavior of the neuron. This is a very simplified explanation to this question.
The three main components of a synapse are the presynaptic terminal (axon terminal), the synaptic cleft (the small gap between neurons), and the postsynaptic terminal (dendrite or cell body). These components work together to transmit signals from one neuron to another through the release and reception of neurotransmitters.
We can be thankful that they go in only one direction; otherwise brain activity would be nothing but chaos. Neurotransmission begins at the synapse. At the synapse, only one of the two corresponding neurons has receptor locations that determine whether or not the receiving neuron will fire. The other neuron at the synapse is responsible for producing the neurotransmitters that attach to the receptors. There is sometimes a re-uptake of neurotransmitters when there are no more receptors for them to attach to. Some psychotropic drugs work to inhibit this re-uptake.
Neurotransmitters are molecules that travel from the synapses of one neuron to the dendrites of another neuron, activating channels on the second neuron that allow an influx of ions to rush in and start an impulse within the second neuron.
she sneezed with the thundering force of a hurricane!
They transmit nerve impulses and stimuli.
Neurotransmitters are the chemical medium through which the signals move from one neuron to the next at the synapses. This is called neurotransmission and the way it is done is through electrochemical processes. A chemical message from other neurons, through dendrites causes a nerve impulse. This travels down the Axon to the terminal buttons at the end. This then releases the neurotransmitters which send a message to the next neuron. The neuron that sends the message is the pre-synaptic neuron, and the one that receives it is the postsynaptic neuron. Each neurotransmitter has a specific effect on a specific circuit. They do not all work with every receptor. This is a complicated subject to try to explain in a short statement! I have probably confused you by now.
Drugs can impact neurotransmitter transmission by either mimicking or blocking the action of neurotransmitters at the synapse. For example, drugs like cocaine can block the reuptake of neurotransmitters like dopamine, leading to increased neurotransmitter levels in the synapse. This alteration in neurotransmitter levels can result in changes in brain function and behavior.
All animal brains, including human brains, work in essentially the same way. There are a whole lot of nerve cells, also called neurons, and any given neuron can either fire or not fire. If it fires, it sends a signal down all of its dendrites and axons. Neurons are connected to lots of other neurons in various complicated ways. They also have connections to other parts of the body. Neurons receive sensory information, and send out messages that control muscles. The signals that neurons receive determine whether they fire or not. Impulses can also pass or fail to pass from one neuron to another, across a small gap called a synapse, depending upon the amount of neurotransmitters in the synapse. Those are the variables. Together, they create a complex data processing system.
A group of nerve cells is known as a neuron. Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system and are responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body to facilitate communication between different parts of the body. In the brain, neurons work together to process information, form memories, and regulate various bodily functions.
they send electrical pulses down the axon to the next neuron.
The resting potential of a neuron is the electrical charge difference across the cell membrane when the neuron is not sending any signals. This difference is maintained by the unequal distribution of ions inside and outside the neuron, with more sodium ions outside and more potassium ions inside. The resting potential allows the neuron to quickly generate and transmit signals when needed.