synaptic transmission

Synaptic transmission is how neurons communicate with each other. This process occurs at specialized junctions called synapses. When an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron (the presynaptic terminal), it triggers the release of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters.123

These neurotransmitters cross a small gap, the synaptic cleft, and bind to receptors on the next neuron (the postsynaptic cell). This binding can either excite the next neuron, causing it to generate its own electrical impulse (an action potential), or inhibit it, making it less likely to fire. This complex signaling allows for rapid information transfer throughout the nervous system, enabling everything from basic reflexes to complex thought processes.23451