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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...

Neuronal Communication

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

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...

Cell Potential and Free Energy

Cell Potential and Free Energy

Thermodynamics of a Redox Reaction
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Published on: March 31, 2016

Energy function and energy evolution on neuronal populations.

Rubin Wang¹, Zhikang Zhang, Guanrong Chen

¹Institute for Brain Information Processing and Cognitive Neurodynamics, School of Information Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P R China. rbwang@163.com

IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks

|March 13, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces an energy function for neural populations, revealing a novel coupling where some neurons fire action potentials while others maintain subthreshold activity simultaneously. This energy coding principle offers new insights into neural ensemble dynamics.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

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External Excitation of Neurons Using Electric and Magnetic Fields in One- and Two-dimensional Cultures

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Published on: May 7, 2017

Area of Science:

Computational neuroscience
Neurophysics

Background:

Neural populations exhibit complex dynamics involving subthreshold and suprathreshold states.
Understanding the coupled relationships within neural ensembles is crucial for deciphering brain function.

Purpose of the Study:

To formulate an energy function for neural populations in the cerebral cortex based on energy coding principles.
To describe the temporal energy evolution and coupled states of neurons.

Main Methods:

Formulation of an energy function for electric potentials in neural populations.
Derivation of Hamiltonian motion equations for membrane potential from neuroelectrophysiological data with Gaussian white noise.

Main Results:

The mean membrane potential accurately solves the derived motion equation.
The derived Hamiltonian energy function is validated as correct and effective.
A novel neural coupling mechanism was identified: simultaneous subthreshold activity in some neurons alongside suprathreshold action potential firing in others within neural ensembles.

Conclusions:

The energy coding principle provides a framework for understanding neural population dynamics.
The identified neural coupling is unique and not observed in existing biological neural network models.
This research advances the modeling of neural ensembles and their complex interactions.