AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -At a chemical synapse, an action potential triggers the presynaptic neuron to release neurotransmitters. These molecules bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell and make it more or less likely to fire an action potential.

Detailed explanation-2: -After release into the synaptic cleft, neurotransmitters interact with receptor proteins on the membrane of the postsynaptic cell, causing ionic channels on the membrane to either open or close. When these channels open, depolarization occurs, resulting in the initiation of another action potential.

Detailed explanation-3: -Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles in presynaptic neurons in response to neural activity, diffuse across the synaptic cleft, and bind specific receptors in order to bring about changes in postsynaptic neurons.

Detailed explanation-4: -Neurotransmitter binding to postsynaptic receptors Neurotransmitters from small vesicles target postsynaptic receptor molecules, directly across the synaptic cleft (Fig. 18.2). Therefore, the contents of these vesicles need only a short time for their effects to occur.