Photo by sxy_selia from unsplash
Electrical synapses are neuronal gap junctions that are ubiquitous across brain regions and species. The biophysical properties of most electrical synapses are relatively simple—transcellular channels allow nearly ohmic, bidirectional flow… Click to show full abstract
Electrical synapses are neuronal gap junctions that are ubiquitous across brain regions and species. The biophysical properties of most electrical synapses are relatively simple—transcellular channels allow nearly ohmic, bidirectional flow of ionic current. Yet these connections can play remarkably diverse roles in different neural circuit contexts. Recent findings illustrate how electrical synapses may excite or inhibit, synchronize or desynchronize, augment or diminish rhythms, phase‐shift, detect coincidences, enhance signals relative to noise, adapt, and interact with nonlinear membrane and transmitter‐release mechanisms. Most of these functions are likely to be widespread in central nervous systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 610–624, 2017
Journal Title: Developmental Neurobiology
Year Published: 2017
Link to full text (if available)
Share on Social Media: Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!