in a little Google neurology review found a really marvelous resource: http://sky.bsd.uchicago.edu/lcy_ref/synap/synapse.html by Dave Atkins at George Wash U. in DC
...that beautifully describes the difference between bi-directional electrical synapses and the various types of one directional chemical synapses, and lots more. Two of various new puzzles I came across are that some purely 'structural' brain cells (astrocytes) apparently have large mediating influences, and that the synaptic gaps (clefts) separating the two sides is a closed space "blanketed by neural connective tissue cells (glia)". In an earlier post I compared the openness of the cleft to freely circulating neural fluid (which is apparently not free flowing at all) as a structure allowing cross fertilization of the neuron-to-neuron signals as between pistol and stamen in flowers. Oh well, that's what a drawing board is for, supplying the waste basket! Phil Henshaw ¸¸¸¸.·´ ¯ `·.¸¸¸¸ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 680 Ft. Washington Ave NY NY 10040 tel: 212-795-4844 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] explorations: www.synapse9.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
