Synapse
The tiny gap between brain cells where chemical messages jump from one neuron to the next — the meeting point of thought.
The tiny gap between two neurons where chemical signals (neurotransmitters) are passed from one cell to the next. The meeting point where brain communication happens. The human brain has approximately 100 trillion synapses. The strength of synaptic connections changes with learning and experience — this is the physical basis of memory and neuroplasticity.
How it works
Your neurons don't physically touch. Instead, electrical signals trigger the release of neurotransmitters across synapses. The receiving neuron picks up these chemicals and decides whether to fire its own signal. This process — happening trillions of times per second — is the basis of all brain activity.
Think of it like
It's like a relay baton being tossed across a tiny gap — if the throw is good, the next runner takes off. If not, the message stalls.
What it feels like
You won't feel individual synapses firing, but every thought, every emotion, every memory is a synaptic conversation happening at incredible speed.