The dedicated sites where neurons communicate in the brain are called synapses. Synapses are specialized junctions where the axon terminal of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite, soma, or sometimes axon of another neuron, allowing for the transmission of electrical or chemical signals between them
. At these synaptic sites, the presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters into a tiny gap called the synaptic cleft, which then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, facilitating communication
. Synapses can be chemical, involving neurotransmitter release, or electrical, involving direct electrical coupling through gap junctions
. This synaptic communication is fundamental to brain function, enabling neurons to form complex networks and circuits that underlie all neural processing and behavior
