<p>There are two kinds of neuron-to-neuron connections in the brain.  The most well known is the chemical synapse, which is unidirectional.  Despite this, two neurons can each synapse on each other with a chemical synapse, and both types of connection are observable in brain networks (unidirectional and bidirectional)</p>

<p>The second kind of connection is a gap-junction: electrical coupling.  In this case, it can be bidirectional or unidirectional, but all in the same synapse (whereas a bidirectional chemical synapse requires two synapses).</p>

<p>Typically, the chemical synapses are associated with memory.  There have been synapses observed that behave as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engram_%28neuropsychology%29" rel="nofollow">engrams</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-08T18:53:21.730Z
Also bidirectional chemical connections are more common than would be expected from a random network http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0030068
Kyler Brown
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-30T01:52:55.927Z
2013-12-30T22:24:45.453Z
2013-12-30T22:24:45.453Z
Keegan Keplinger
<p>Do connections in our brain have a direction, or do they behave equally in both directions? I am especially interested in the structures responsible for memory.</p>

<neuroscience>
Are connections in the human brain directed?
danijar
# Are connections in the human brain directed?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-30)

Do connections in our brain have a direction, or do they behave equally in both directions? I am especially interested in the structures responsible for memory.

**Tags:** neuroscience


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-30. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

There are two kinds of neuron-to-neuron connections in the brain. The most well known is the chemical synapse, which is unidirectional. Despite this, two neurons can each synapse on each other with a chemical synapse, and both types of connection are observable in brain networks (unidirectional and bidirectional)

The second kind of connection is a gap-junction: electrical coupling. In this case, it can be bidirectional or unidirectional, but all in the same synapse (whereas a bidirectional chemical synapse requires two synapses).

Typically, the chemical synapses are associated with memory. There have been synapses observed that behave as [engrams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engram_%28neuropsychology%29).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Also bidirectional chemical connections are more common than would be expected from a random network http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0030068  

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