Date Time
Bigger synapse, stronger signals
Nerve cells communicate with one another via synapses. Neuroscientists at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich have now found that these connections seem to be much more powerful than previously thought. The size of synapses directly determines the strength of their signal transmission – illustrated as three nerve cell connections of different size and brightness. (Image: Kristian Herrera and authors)
The neocortex is the part of the brain that humans use to process sensory impressions, store memories, give instructions to the muscles, and plan for the future. These computational processes are possible because each nerve cell is a highly complex miniature computer that communicates with around 10,000 other neurons. This communication happens via special connections called synapses.