Synaptic transmission underlies nearly every aspect of nervous system function and is relevant to most neuropsychiatric conditions. It has become increasingly clear that the communication between neurons is a highly complex, dynamically regulated process, and that a comprehensive understanding of such a process requires a multidisciplinary approach and the complementary use of cutting-edge techniques. The Gordon Research Conference on Synaptic Transmission, established in 1998, highly successful and widely attended since then, has developed into the quintessential biannual meeting covering all aspects of synaptic communication. The 2010 Conference will present major recent advances on a wide range of topics related to synaptic transmission including, the molecular basis of transmitter release, postsynaptic signaling and receptor trafficking, local protein synthesis and synaptic function, synaptic plasticity, trans-synaptic signaling, as well as synaptic dysfunction as a mechanism of brain disorders. The Conference will bring together a diverse group of investigators who are at the forefront of their field, and will provide ample opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with world-class leaders in the field. Some poster presenters will be selected for short talks. In addition, keynote lectures will be delivered by two outstanding scientists whose work on synapses is both highly influential and complementary. The collegial atmosphere of Gordon Research Conferences, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an ideal venue to discuss the most exciting discoveries in the field. The Conference bridges across disciplines by bringing together experts in different areas, and fosters future developments by promoting the interaction between senior and junior investigators. The GRC on Synaptic Transmission will be held at the modern University of New England Campus on the scenic US Atlantic coast in Biddeford, Maine.