Identify the following as properties of electrical synapses (ES), chemical synapses (CS), or both (B).           

a. ______The plasma membranes of presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons are joined by gap junctions.          

b. ______Transmission is unidirectional and delayed.          

c. ______A presynaptic neuron and a postsynaptic neuron are involved.          

d. ______The use of neurotransmitters packaged into synaptic vesicles is required.          

e. ______Transmission is nearly instantaneous and bidirectional.

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together which of the following statements about electrical synapses is true. Is it answer choice A? They are slower compared to the chemical synapses. Answer choice B it involves a unidirectional transmission. Answer choice C it uses neurotransmitters to transmit signals or answer choice D it has gap junctions that are formed by connection or in Xin proteins. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices contains a statement about electrical synapses that is true. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about electrical synapses to determine which of the following answer choices is a true statement. So starting off with answer choice A which says that they are slower compared to the chemical synapses. Well, we know that electrical synapses are not slower compared to the chemical synapses and instead are faster compared to the chemical synapses. So answer choice A is a false statement as electrical synapses allow for the direct flow of ions between connected neurons which results in a faster synapse than the chemical synapses. So answer choice A is incorrect. Next, we have answer choice B which says that electrical synapses involves a unidirectional transmission. Well, we know that within electrical synapses, there is not a unidirectional transmission and instead there is a bidirectional transmission. So answer choice B is also a false statement since these signals flow in both directions making it bidirectional transmission. So answer choice B is also incorrect. And next we have answer choice C which says that electrical synapses use neurotransmitters to transmit signals. While we know that those neurotransmitters are not used in electrical synapses. So answer choice C is also a false statement as neurotransmitters are used in chemical synapses and not electrical synapses. So answer choice C is incorrect. Leaving us with answer choice D is the only remaining answer choice making answer choice D A true statement which says it has gap junctions that are formed by connection or in X and proteins. And we know that answer choice D is a true statement since those gap junctions which are channels formed by the connect and proteins in animals and the in X and proteins in invertebrates allow for direct communication and the passage of ions and small molecules between adjacent neurons which facilitates rapid and bidirectional transmission of electrical signals. So answer choice D is the only answer choice containing a true statement about electrical synapses. So it is the correct answer. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.