publication . Other literature type . Article . 2004

ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES IN THE MAMMALIAN BRAIN

Name: Electrical synapses in the mammalian brain.
Keywords: General Neuroscience

Barry W. Connors; Michael A. Long;

Open Access

Published: 21 Jul 2004

Publisher: Annual Reviews

Summary
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Abstract

Many neurons in the mammalian central nervous system communicate through electrical synapses, defined here as gap junction-mediated connections. Electrical synapses are reciprocal pathways for ionic current and small organic molecules. They are often strong enough to mediate close synchronization of subthreshold and spiking activity among clusters of neurons. The most thoroughly studied electrical synapses occur between excitatory projection neurons of the inferior olivary nucleus and between inhibitory interneurons of the neocortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. All these synapses require the gap junction protein connexin36 (Cx36) for robust electrical coupling. C...

doi: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.26.041002.131128

pmid: 15217338

Subjects

Medical Subject Headings: nervous system

free text keywords: General Neuroscience, Biological neural network, Electrical synapse, medicine.anatomical_structure, medicine, Neuroscience, Inhibitory postsynaptic potential, Synapse, Non-spiking neuron, Biology, Neocortex, Gap junction, Electrical Synapses

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