Question

Which of the following statements about synapses is FALSE? _______

A) Communication across electrical synapses is bi-directional.
B) Neurotransmitters can move from one cell to another through gap junctions at an electrical synapse.
C) Most synapses in the nervous system are chemical synapses.
D) Electrical synapses can be gated.
E) Communication at chemical synapses is slower than at electrical synapses.

Answer 1

The FALSE statement is that neurotransmitters can move through gap junctions at an electrical synapse. In reality, electrical synapses allow ions and other small molecules to pass but not neurotransmitters, which are part of chemical synapses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement about synapses that is FALSE is B) Neurotransmitters can move from one cell to another through gap junctions at an electrical synapse. Electrical synapses involve gap junctions through which ions and other small molecules, such as ATP, can pass, but not neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are involved in chemical synapses and they act by diffusing across the synaptic cleft and binding to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.

Communication at electrical synapses is indeed bi-directional and they can be gated. It is true that most synapses in the nervous system are chemical synapses and that communication at chemical synapses is slower than at electrical synapses due to the time it takes for neurotransmitters to be released and bind to receptors.