Lecture 9 Module 2

Question 1

Whats the difference between electrical and chemical synapses

Answer 1

Chemical- Post synaptic density is thicker as lots of receptors for the NT, the presynaptic cell is full of ssv. The process is slower

Electrical- Much faster, lacks vesicles, regulated by and connected to chemical synapses. The electrical synapse is electron dense

Question 2

What are the steps of storing a memory in the brain

Answer 2

Rapid responses- Release of transmitter, activation of post synaptic receptors and relocating better serving receptors to the post synaptic density for better reception.

Intermediate responses-
Rna transformation into new proteins within the dendrites/local translation of new proteins.

Long term changes-
Communication from synapse back to nucleus to change transcription to change the content of the cell into maintaining the memory

Question 3

Describe electrical synapses

Answer 3

Happens through the usage of gap junctions. They are very fast and transmit small metabolites and second messengers. The ionic current flows both ways through these synapses