synaptology
Synaptology is the study of synapses, the specialized junctions through which neurons communicate. Although the term appears in some historical and educational contexts, modern neuroscience more commonly uses phrases such as synaptic biology, synaptic physiology, or neurobiology to describe this field. In broad terms, synaptology encompasses the structure, formation, signaling, and plasticity of synapses, and their role in neural circuits and behavior.
Synapses are traditionally categorized as chemical or electrical. Chemical synapses feature presynaptic terminals that release neurotransmitters
Key processes include synaptogenesis, synaptic maturation, and pruning during development, as well as activity-dependent plasticity that
Research methods span electrophysiology, live and fixed-cell imaging, electron microscopy, and molecular genetics, alongside computational modeling
The field is central to understanding cognitive function, sensory processing, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Dysregulation of synapses