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Characteristics and plasticity of electrical synaptic transmission.

Authors :
Curti, Sebastian
O'Brie, John
Source :
BMC Cell Biology; 5/24/2016, Vol. 17, p59-70, 12p
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Electrical synapses are an omnipresent feature of nervous systems, from the simple nerve nets of cnidarians to complex brains of mammals. Formed by gap junction channels between neurons, electrical synapses allow direct transmission of voltage signals between coupled cells. The relative simplicity of this arrangement belies the sophistication of these synapses. Coupling via electrical synapses can be regulated by a variety of mechanisms on times scales ranging from milliseconds to days, and active properties of the coupled neurons can impart emergent properties such as signal amplification, phase shifts and frequency-selective transmission. This article reviews the biophysical characteristics of electrical synapses and some of the core mechanisms that control their plasticity in the vertebrate central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712121
Volume :
17
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
BMC Cell Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
116118313
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12860-016-0091-y