Synaptic transmission refers to the process by which neurons communicate with each other through specialized junctions called synapses. This communication occurs when an electrical signal, known as an action potential, travels down a neuron and reaches the end of the axon, where it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These chemical messengers then bind to receptors on the adjacent neuron's membrane, which can either excite or inhibit that neuron's activity, allowing for the propagation of information throughout the nervous system.