Synaptic transmission pathways

Synaptic transmission pathways refer to the complex series of molecular and cellular events that enable the transfer of information between neurons at synapses, primarily through the release of neurotransmitters from a presynaptic neuron, which cross the synaptic cleft and act upon receptors on the postsynaptic cell to elicit a biological response[1][3][7][9]. These pathways underlie critical brain functions including perception, movement, cognition, learning, and memory, and disruptions are implicated in many neurological and psychiatric disorders[2][7][9]. They involve a large number of targetable molecular components—such as neurotransmitter receptors (e.g., glutamate and GABA receptors), ion channels, transporters, enzymes involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and degradation, and synaptic vesicle proteins—which can individually serve as therapeutic targets, but the pathway as a whole is not itself a discrete target[1][7][9].

Other names

Synaptic signaling pathwaysSynaptic communication processesSynaptic signaling