1. Action Potential Arrival: When an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal, it triggers the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels. 2. Neurotransmitter Release: The influx of calcium ions causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic membrane, releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. 3. Binding to Receptors: Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane. 4. Postsynaptic Response: This binding causes ion channels to open or close, generating a postsynaptic potential that can initiate an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron.
