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The cost of an action potential
1Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche, Universita' di Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, 90123, Palermo, Italy. aiello@fisica.unipa.it
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|November 21, 2000
Summary
Brain cell assemblies may require too much energy for communication. This study calculates the high metabolic cost of action potentials (APs) in neuronal modules, suggesting alternative, energy-saving methods like non-synaptic diffusion neurotransmission (NDN) may be used.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neuronal modules, or cell-assemblies, are hypothesized to underlie complex brain functions.
- The metabolic cost of neuronal communication within large cell-assemblies may be substantial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calculate the metabolic energy cost of action potentials (APs) in neuronal modules.
- To evaluate the feasibility of current models of brain function given energy constraints.
- To explore alternative neurocommunication mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a circuit model of the cell membrane to emulate action potentials (APs).
- Calculated the energy cost of APs based on ATP consumption for ion transport.
- Assessed ionic unbalance resulting from APs.
Main Results:
- A medium-sized neuronal module (10,000 neurons) could demand at least 10 J/L of brain.
- The calculated cost of an isolated AP is extremely high, requiring 10^11-10^12 ATP molecules per cm^2 of cell membrane.
- The energy demand aligns with the cost of depolarizing large monopolar cells in insect retinas.
Conclusions:
- The high metabolic cost of APs in cell-assemblies suggests limitations for energy-intensive neuronal communication.
- Alternative, less metabolically demanding neurocommunication methods, such as non-synaptic diffusion neurotransmission (NDN), are proposed.
- NDN may offer a more energy-efficient mechanism for brain function, aligning with principles of space and energy conservation.
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