For the synapse to work properly, six basic events need to happen:
Neurotransmitters are produced and stored in synaptic vesicles in the soma, or cell body of the neuron. They travel down the axon to the axon terminal, where they are released into the synapse. Some neurotransmitters bind to the postsynaptic neuron as a key fits a lock, providing either an excitatory or an inhibitory input. Neurons generate an impulse, called an action potential when neurotransmitters' excitatory inputs exceed inhibitory inputs. This brief electrical charge in the axon depolarizes the cell and causes a domino effect in the charge all the way down the axon. After binding occurs and action potentials are fired, neurotransmitters are removed from the synapse by the process of reuptake, or they are destroyed by enzymes. Keep in mind that although here we show a single synapse for simplicity, we have billions of neurons in our bodies, and that at any given time millions are communicating with each other!
Production of the Neurotransmitters
Storage of Neurotransmitters
Release of Neurotransmitters
Binding of Neurotransmitters
Generation of a New Action Potential
Removal of Neurotransmitters from the Synapse
