Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
08:08
Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
Published on: June 24, 2015
Extracellular detection of active membrane currents in the neuron-electrode interface
J R Buitenweg1, W L C Rutten, E Marani
1Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Institute for Biomedical Technology, Signals and Systems Group, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. j.r.buitenweg@el.utwente.nl
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|May 7, 2002
Summary
This study introduces a new method to detect active membrane currents in cultured cells using extracellular stimulation. It differentiates between neuron and non-neuronal cells, enabling better analysis of electrical contacts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Bioengineering
Background:
- Sealing resistance measurements assess cell-electrode contact but don't identify cell type (neuron vs. non-neuronal).
- Current methods lack established rules for translating sealing resistance into successful electrical stimulation parameters for action potential elicitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel method for detecting active membrane currents in cultured cells stimulated by extracellular currents.
- To differentiate between neuronal and non-neuronal cells based on their electrical responses.
- To establish a framework for translating measured electrical parameters into successful stimulation protocols.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes an impedance model of the neuron-electrode contact to predict the linear response to stimulus current pulses.
- Detects active membrane currents by analyzing the nonlinear component of the measured response.
- Extracts necessary impedance model parameters via impedance spectroscopy or directly from recorded responses.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected active membrane currents, distinguishing between cell types.
- The proposed method provides a way to infer cell-specific electrical properties from measured responses.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of using impedance modeling for analyzing cell-electrode interactions.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a significant advancement in analyzing electrical contacts between cells and microelectrodes.
- It enables the identification of cell types and provides insights into their electrophysiological properties.
- This approach has the potential to refine electrical stimulation protocols for neural interfaces and research.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21The Resting Membrane Potential
Overview
01:24Resting Membrane Potential
The relative difference in electrical charge, or voltage, between the inside and the outside of a cell membrane, is called the membrane potential. It is generated by differences in permeability of the membrane to various ions and the concentrations of these ions across the membrane.
The Inside of a Neuron is More Negative
The membrane potential of a cell can be measured by inserting a microelectrode into a cell and comparing the charge to a reference electrode in the extracellular fluid. The...
The Inside of a Neuron is More Negative
The membrane potential of a cell can be measured by inserting a microelectrode into a cell and comparing the charge to a reference electrode in the extracellular fluid. The...
01:18Patch Clamp
Many fundamental cell functions such as muscle contraction and nerve transmission rely on the electrical signals produced by the movement of positively and negatively charged ions across the cell membrane. One competent method to record current flowing across the whole cell or single ion channel is the patch-clamp technique.
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...
In this method, a glass micropipette containing electrolyte solution is tightly sealed against a small portion of the cell membrane. As a result, a patch of the cell...
01:06Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview
Interfacial electrochemical methods focus on the phenomena occurring at the boundary between an electrode and a solution, as opposed to bulk methods that concentrate on the solution's overall properties. These interfacial methods are classified as either static or dynamic based on the presence of a nonzero current in the electrochemical cell and the consistency of analyte concentrations. Static methods, such as potentiometry, measure the cell's potential without any significant current passing...
01:15Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes
Membrane electrodes, also known as p-ion electrodes, use membranes that selectively interact with free analyte ions, generating a potential difference across the membrane. The resulting membrane potential, known as the asymmetry potential, is not zero even when analyte concentrations on both sides of the membrane are equal. The membrane's response is typically not selective to a single analyte but proportional to the concentration of all ions in the sample solution capable of interacting at the...
01:21Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview
An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to the...
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to the...