Synaptic Transmission

Synaptic Transmission

1. The gap between one neuron and the next is known as the synaptic cleft or synapse

2. For the electrical impulse to reach the next neuron, it must travel across the synapse as a chemical signal using neurotransmitters

3. Beginning

   • Electrical impulses (known as action potentials) travel down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron
   • Electrical impulses trigger release of neurotransmitters from the vesicles (serotonin into the synapse)

4. Middle

   • Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse
   • Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane

5. End

   • Stimulation of postsynaptic receptors by neurotransmitters result in either excitation or inhibition of the postsynaptic membrane
   • Excitation
     • Likelihood of an action potential increases so neural activity increases (Adrenaline)
   • Inhibition
     • Likelihood of an action potential decreases so neural activity is reduced (GABA)

6. The likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing is determined by adding up the excitatory and inhibitory input summation

7. A neuron can receive both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters at one time

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