SYNAPTIC

CONDUCTION
Riddhi Raval
21MAPSY04
MA PSYCHOLOGY SEM3
AGENDA
Introduction​
Structure of Synapse
Types of Synapse
Synaptic Conduction 3

INTRODUCTION
Synaptic transmission is the process at synapses by which
a chemical signal (a transmitter) is released from one
neuron and diffuses to other neurons or target cells where
it generates a signal.
Without transmission, there is no direct communication
between cells—there would be only individual
isolated cells. The whole point of the nervous system is to
control and coordinate body function and enable the body
to respond to, and act on, the environment. Synaptic
transmission is the key process in the integrative action of
the nervous system.
STRUCTURE OF A CHEMICAL SYNAPSE:
4
 5
STRUCTURE OF A CHEMICAL SYNAPSE:

A TYPICAL SYNAPTIC STRUCTURE HAS A PRESYNAPTIC NEURON,

POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON AND A SYNAPTIC CLEFT.

PRESYNAPTIC ENDINGS – WHICH CONTAIN THE

NEUROTRANSMITTERS (CHEMICAL MESSENGERS).
SYNAPTIC CLEFTS – WHICH IS THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO
NEURONS.
POSTSYNAPTIC ENDINGS – WHICH CONTAINS THE SITES FOR
RECEPTORS (MOLECULES WHICH RECEIVES SIGNALS FOR A
CELL).

SYNAPSES ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE A CHANGE

IN THE MESSAGE BEING PASSED ON.
POSTSYNAPTIC NEURONS CAN ALSO SEND COMMUNICATIONS
BACK TO THE PRESYNAPTIC NEURONS TELLING THEM TO
CHANGE HOW OFTEN OR MUCH A NEUROTRANSMITTER IS
RELEASED. DUE TO THIS, WE CAN SAY THAT THE SYNAPSES ARE
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BI-DIRECTIONALLY.
TYPES OF SYNAPSES: 6

• Chemical transmissions:
• https://youtu.be/Jru5dJXrPR4
• Inside the presynaptic neuron are synaptic vesicles, which
are covered in membrane and contain neurotransmitters.
When an action potential arrives at the presynaptic
terminal, it activates voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca² +)
in the neuron’s membrane. Ca² + are highly concentrated on
the outside of the neuron and will rush into the neuron
when activated.
• The Ca² + permits the synaptic vesicles to fuse with the
presynaptic terminal’s membrane, enabling it to release
neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
• The transmitter molecules then will diffuse across the
synaptic cleft and will bind to the receptors of the
postsynaptic neuron. 
 7

Electrical synapses transmission:

• Electrical synapses are different from chemical synapses as there is a

direct physical connection between the presynaptic and the
postsynaptic neuron.
• This connection takes the form of something called a gap junction,
which is essentially a channel which allows ions to flow directly from
the presynaptic cell to the postsynaptic cell.
• Gap junctions contain paired channels in the membranes of the pre and
postsynaptic neurons, forming pores. These pores are larger than those
of the voltage-gated ion channels in chemical synapses, meaning that a
variety of substances can diffuse between the neurons.
• Electrical synapses transmit signals much quicker than chemical
synapses, almost instantaneously, compared with chemical synapses
taking several milliseconds.
THANK YOU