How do electrical and chemical synapses differ

A chemical synapse is a gap between two neurons where information passes chemically, in the form of neurotransmitter molecules. An electrical synapse is a gap which has channel proteins connecting the two neurons, so the electrical signal can travel straight over the synapse.

While electrical synapses are faster electricity moves quicker than molecules, and you don't need receptors , they lack gain. The electrical signal is always the same or smaller after a synapse, while chemicals can increase a signal. Electrical synapses also have to be much smaller so the channel proteins can reach from one cell to another. You often find electrical synapses in systems requiring quick responses, like instincts and defense, and chemical synapses in the less urgent places.

Electrical Synapse: Chemoreceptors are absent on the post-synaptic membrane in the electric synapses. Chemical Synapse: The transmission of information at a chemical synapse is slow. Electrical Synapse: The transmission of information at an electrical synapse occurs at high speed. Chemical Synapse: Chemical synapses are more vulnerable to fatigue. Electrical Synapse: Electrical synapses are less vulnerable to fatigue. Chemical Synapse: Chemical synapses are sensitive to hypoxia and pH.

Electrical Synapse: Electrical synapses are insensitive to hypoxia and pH. Chemical Synapse: Chemical synapses are found in most of the neuron junctions.

Electrical Synapse: Electrical synapses are found in the retina, olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, lateral vestibular nucleus, and hippocampus. Chemical synapses and electrical synapses are the two types of gaps that occur between nerve cells.

Both types of synapses transmit nerve impulses. Chemical synapses transmit nerve impulses by means of neurotransmitters. But, electrical synapses transmit the action potentials by means of ions that through gap junctions. The main difference between chemical synapses and electrical synapses is the mode of the transmission of signals through the synaptic cleft in each type of synapses. Purves, Dale. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. There are key differences between chemical and electrical synapses.

Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels.

Additionally, this signaling is unidirectional. Signaling in electrical synapses, in contrast, is virtually instantaneous which is important for synapses involved in key reflexes , and some electrical synapses are bidirectional.

Electrical synapses are also more reliable as they are less likely to be blocked, and they are important for synchronizing the electrical activity of a group of neurons.

For example, electrical synapses in the thalamus are thought to regulate slow-wave sleep, and disruption of these synapses can cause seizures.

Improve this page Learn More. Skip to main content. Module The Nervous System. Search for:. Chemical and Electrical Synapses Learning Outcomes Explain the similarities and differences between chemical and electrical synapses.

Reference: 1. Purves, Dale. National Library of Medicine, 01 Jan. Nicholls, J. National Library of Medicine, Sept. Image Courtesy: 1. Samanthi Udayangani holds a B. Degree in Plant Science, M.

Your email address will not be published. Comments Thank you for good feedback. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Chemical vs Electrical Synapse.

In chemical synapse, signal transmission happens through chemical molecules called neurotransmitters. In electrical synapse, signal transmission happens in the form of electrical signals without the use of molecules.

Modification of Signals. Signals are modified during the transmission.