Crafting the Message

Leterrier et al. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2018.

Axons and dendrites are the motorways of the brain; as electrical signals shoot along their pathways, the circuits that form the basic functions of the brain become more and more complex. Dendrites, seen here in blue, reach out to other neurons to receive their messages. But axons are responsible for conveying those message onward. Highlighted in yellow are specialized cell parts called the axon initial segment – responsible for generating, shaping, and dispatching these signals. The signal will then move down the axon until it meets up with a dendrite from another cell, ready to receive its message.

About the Author

Michael W. Richardson

Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.