Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
05:52
Measuring the Induced Membrane Voltage with Di-8-ANEPPS
Published on: November 19, 2009
Transmembrane potential induced in a spherical cell model under low-frequency magnetic stimulation
Hui Ye1, Marija Cotic, Peter L Carlen
1Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada. hye@uhnresearch.ca
Journal of Neural Engineering
|September 18, 2007
Summary
Magnetic fields induce electric fields in neurons, but analytical solutions for magnetically induced potential changes are lacking. This study models a spherical neuron to show that tissue non-homogeneity significantly impacts magnetic stimulation effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Time-varying magnetic fields induce electric fields in neuronal tissue, utilized in clinical applications like transcranial magnetic stimulation.
- Existing research on direct electric stimulation is extensive, but analytical solutions for magnetically induced transmembrane potential changes are unavailable.
- The impact of tissue non-homogeneity on neuronal polarization during magnetic stimulation remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To derive an analytical expression for the transmembrane potential induced by low-frequency magnetic fields in a spherical neuronal model.
- To investigate the influence of stimulation parameters and tissue properties on magnetically induced neuronal polarization.
- To elucidate the role of tissue non-homogeneity in magnetic stimulation effects.
Main Methods:
- Developed an analytical model for a spherical neuron with a low-conductive membrane, cytoplasm, and extracellular medium.
- Simulated the transmembrane potential induced by a low-frequency magnetic field.
- Analyzed the sensitivity of the induced potential to coil position, and geometrical and electrical parameters of the neuronal model.
Main Results:
- Derived an analytical expression for magnetically induced transmembrane potential in a spherical neuron.
- Demonstrated regional polarization within the neuronal structure, dependent on coil positioning.
- Showed that geometrical and electrical properties of the neuron significantly influence the degree of polarization.
Conclusions:
- Tissue non-homogeneity, alongside coil design and position, is a critical factor in determining magnetic stimulation outcomes.
- The findings can be generalized to other neuronal tissues with similar non-homogenous properties but different shapes.
- This work provides a foundational analytical model for understanding magnetic stimulation in non-homogeneous neuronal tissues.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21The Resting Membrane Potential
Overview
01:22Motional Emf
Magnetic flux depends on three factors: the strength of the magnetic field, the area through which the field lines pass, and the field's orientation with respect to the surface area. If any of these quantities vary, a corresponding variation in magnetic flux occurs. If the area through which the magnetic field lines are passing changes, then the magnetic flux also changes. This change in the area can be of two types: the flux through the rectangular loop increases as it moves into the magnetic...
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...
01:24Resting 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...
01:24Potential Due to a Magnetized Object
Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...
The vector...
01:25Magnetic Field due to Moving Charges
A stationary charge creates and interacts with the electric field, while a moving charge creates a magnetic field.
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...
Consider a point charge moving with a constant velocity. Like the electric field, the magnetic field at any point is directly proportional to the magnitude of the charge and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the source point and the field point. However, unlike the electric field, the magnetic field is always perpendicular to the plane containing the line...