The synapse not only provides a bridge from one nerve cell to the next; its function can be modified by experience, making it important for learning and memory, and it plays an important role in the growth and development of the nervous system. This is a central topic in the study of neuroscience on which molecular biology has had a major impact. Professor Kuno has written the first accessible overview of the synapse in these different contexts. He takes the reader through a series of fundamental questions about neuronal function which facilitate an understanding of the rationale and logic behind current research in the area. To achieve a true synthesis on molecular biology and neurophysiology, the terminology and concepts are described in terms accessible to advanced students and researchers in both areas, enhanced by over 140 illustrations and a number of explanatory boxes.