Synaptic Transmission: Electrical vs. Chemical

This lecture delves into the fundamental differences between electrical and chemical synapses, exploring their ultrastructural components, transmission mechanisms, and synaptic delays. It covers the distinctive properties of each synapse type, such as bidirectionality, cytoplasmic continuity, and ion flow. The neuromuscular junction is used as an example to generalize findings to other CNS synapses. The lecture also discusses the receptors involved in chemical synapses, like nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and the principles of synaptic plasticity, including short-term and long-term enhancements and depressions. Various concepts, such as glutamatergic synapses, AMPA and NMDA receptors, and GABAA receptors, are explained in detail.