<p>From <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788333/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">a paper on C.elegans</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>To understand the neural basis of these behaviors requires some information not only about the pattern and strength of the connections but also about the type of their synapses. The same neural circuit can perform different functions depending on the signs of synaptic polarities it contains. Specifically, circuits in which excitatory synapses dominate can sometimes become epileptic. On the other hand, networks with only inhibitory connections could be silent, and therefore in many situations useless. Thus, it may seem that some sort of an intermediate regime is necessary for a proper functioning of the nervous system</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In that paper that's all they mean by it. It's not a very widespread term, and should not be confused with [the much more widespread term] neuronal polarity, which means the differentiation between dendrites and axon as the neuron develops. Also of note that synapses can also be classified morphologically, and when doing that there are more than two types, e.g. S-type, F-type and C-type. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-21T19:28:31.603Z
Thanks, that clarifies, given that my googling found no other references.  A separate question arises: in the case of an inhibitory connection, is it correct to say that such a connection is mediated by different chemicals than an excitatory connection?  Is that too simple a description?
Michael Stachowsky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-21T22:10:22.677Z
@MichaelStachowsky Feel free to post new questions as new posts. Comments are only a temporary medium and thus are not ideal for follow-ups. You can include a reference to this question in the question, including what you learned here (the new question should still stand on its own).
Steven Jeuris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T15:12:44.390Z
@StevenJeuris: OK, will do
Michael Stachowsky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-21T18:06:33.530Z
2017-11-22T10:35:19.790Z
2017-11-22T10:35:19.790Z
got trolled too much this week
<p>I'm reading a paper and they are discussing modelling the neural networks of an organism. One of the key things they are interested in is finding out the synaptic polarity of chemical synapses.  What does that term mean, and what might its relevance be?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-21T22:06:19.280Z
For the sake of clarity, could you include an APA reference to the specific paper you are reading? Especially in the future. As you can see (from the answer you accepted) it helps knowing which paper you are looking at to help out with the interpretation.
Steven Jeuris
<neuroscience>
What is "synaptic polarity" in a chemical synapse?
Michael Stachowsky
# What is "synaptic polarity" in a chemical synapse?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-21)

I'm reading a paper and they are discussing modelling the neural networks of an organism. One of the key things they are interested in is finding out the synaptic polarity of chemical synapses. What does that term mean, and what might its relevance be?

**Tags:** neuroscience

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: For the sake of clarity, could you include an APA reference to the specific paper you are reading? Especially in the future. As you can see (from the answer you accepted) it helps knowing which paper you are looking at to help out with the interpretation.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-21. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

From [a paper on C.elegans](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788333/):

> To understand the neural basis of these behaviors requires some information not only about the pattern and strength of the connections but also about the type of their synapses. The same neural circuit can perform different functions depending on the signs of synaptic polarities it contains. Specifically, circuits in which excitatory synapses dominate can sometimes become epileptic. On the other hand, networks with only inhibitory connections could be silent, and therefore in many situations useless. Thus, it may seem that some sort of an intermediate regime is necessary for a proper functioning of the nervous system

In that paper that's all they mean by it. It's not a very widespread term, and should not be confused with [the much more widespread term] neuronal polarity, which means the differentiation between dendrites and axon as the neuron develops. Also of note that synapses can also be classified morphologically, and when doing that there are more than two types, e.g. S-type, F-type and C-type.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, that clarifies, given that my googling found no other references.  A separate question arises: in the case of an inhibitory connection, is it correct to say that such a connection is mediated by different chemicals than an excitatory connection?  Is that too simple a description?  
> **username_1**: @MichaelStachowsky Feel free to post new questions as new posts. Comments are only a temporary medium and thus are not ideal for follow-ups. You can include a reference to this question in the question, including what you learned here (the new question should still stand on its own).  
> **username_0**: @StevenJeuris: OK, will do  

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