For the brain to function, signals need to pass between neurons in order to control movement, speech, thought, and decision-making. Each individual neuron (there are billions within a single human brain) connects to a vast and complex network of neurons through thousands of synapses. Synapses mediate communication between neurons, affecting how we perceive and react to the world around us—essentially propelling us through life and making us who we are. Dysfunctions in the development or function of synapses are thought to be central to many brain disorders including intellectual disability, schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and addiction.
