Synapse

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Synapses are the connections between neurons by which they communicate with each other. Chemical synapses use neurotransmitters as a chemical signal for communicating information, while electrical synapses communicate information by directly transferring an action potential to another cell.

Function

The activation of a synapse generally affects the postsynaptic cell in one of two ways, it either excites the neuron, increasing the chances that it fires, or it inhibits the neuron, decreasing the chances that it fires. Chemical synapses can be either excitatory or inhibitory, but electrical synapses are always excitatory.

Chemical

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitter Receptors

Termination

Electrical

Synapse Chain