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Action Potential

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...

Action Potential

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.

Action Potentials

Action Potentials

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...

Propagation of Action Potentials

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Use of Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons to Study the Assembly of Axon Initial Segments

Use of Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons to Study the Assembly of Axon Initial Segments

Published on: February 12, 2021

Axon initial segment Kv1 channels control axonal action potential waveform and synaptic efficacy.

Maarten H P Kole¹, Johannes J Letzkus, Greg J Stuart

¹Division of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

|August 19, 2007

Summary

Axonal Kv1 potassium channels in the axon initial segment (AIS) shape action potentials. Inactivation of these channels broadens action potentials and increases synaptic strength, revealing a localized computational role.

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Published on: May 25, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Electrophysiology

Background:

Action potentials transmit neural information through rate and temporal patterns.
Axons are traditionally viewed as passive transmission lines, not computational elements.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the localized role of axonal Kv1 potassium channels in shaping action potential waveforms.
To determine if Kv1 channels in the axon initial segment (AIS) contribute to neuronal computation.

Main Methods:

Cell-attached recordings in layer 5 pyramidal neurons.
Analysis of Kv1 channel density in the AIS.
Inactivation of AIS Kv1 channels and assessment of action potential waveform changes.

Main Results:

Kv1 channel density increases significantly in the proximal AIS.
Inactivation of AIS Kv1 channels broadens axonal action potentials in a distance-dependent manner.
Broadened action potentials led to increased synaptic strength at proximal axonal terminals.

Conclusions:

Axonal Kv1 channels in the AIS play a localized role in shaping action potential waveforms.
These channels integrate subthreshold signals to control presynaptic action potential shape and synaptic coupling.
This highlights a novel computational function for the axon in local cortical circuits.