Why are gap junctions important in the nervous system?

Gap junctions are channels that physically connect adjacent cells, mediating the rapid exchange of small molecules, and playing an essential role in a wide range of physiological processes in nearly every system in the body, including the nervous system.

What happens when you strengthen synaptic connections?

Rewiring the brain Over the past 30 years, scientists have found that strong input to a postsynaptic cell causes it to traffic more receptors for neurotransmitters to its surface, amplifying the signal it receives from the presynaptic cell.

What does the synaptic gap do?

The synaptic cleft, also known as the synaptic gap, is the space in between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another and is where the electrical signal is translated to a chemical signal that can be perceived by the next neuron.

What is a gap junction synapse?

The electrical synapse is a gap junction consisting of a field of connexin pores that pass ions and signaling molecules directly from one cell to another without passing through the extracellular fluid.

How do gap junctions connect cells?

Gap junctions are a type of cell junction in which adjacent cells are connected through protein channels. These channels connect the cytoplasm of each cell and allow molecules, ions, and electrical signals to pass between them.

What purpose do gap junctions serve quizlet?

Gap junctions allow cellular communication via passage of electrical and chemical signals between adjacent cells.

How does adjusting synaptic strength result in learning and memory formation?

Memories are stored initially in the hippocampus, where synapses among excitatory neurons begin to form new circuits within seconds of the events to be remembered. An increase in the strength of a relatively small number of synapses can bind connected neurons into a circuit that stores a new memory.

What do synaptic gaps separate neurotransmitter receptor sites from?

The synaptic gap separates the neurotransmitter receptor site from the presynaptic neuron.

What are the cells that go across the synaptic gap?

The cell that delivers the signal to the synapse is the presynaptic cell. The cell that will receive the signal once it crosses the synapse is the postsynaptic cell. Since most neural pathways contain several neurons, a postsynaptic neuron at one synapse may become the presynaptic neuron for another cell downstream.

What are the main function of gap junctions?

Gap junctions allow the exchange of ions, second messengers, and small metabolites between adjacent cells and are formed by two unrelated protein families, the pannexins and connexins. Mutations in connexin genes cause a variety of genetic disorders, implicating a critical role in tissue homeostasis.