Neurons send electrical signals through a process called synaptic transmission. When an electrical signal reaches the end of a neuron, known as the terminal bouton, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, which is the gap between the terminal bouton of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron.
The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the dendrites of the receiving neuron, causing ion channels to open and allowing ions to flow into the cell. This influx of ions changes the electrical charge inside the receiving neuron, creating an electrical signal that travels down the length of the neuron and triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the end of the neuron, continuing the process. This chain reaction of electrical signals allows neurons to communicate with each other and transmit information throughout the brain and nervous system.
How do neurons send electrical signals?
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