Localized short impulses in a nerve model with self-excitable membrane.
Alain M Dikandé1, Ga-Akeku Bartholomew
1Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Research on Advanced Materials and Nonlinear Sciences, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. adikande@ictp.it
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|November 13, 2009
Summary
The plasma membrane self-regulates nerve impulse shape and stability through a single feedback mechanism. This electrodynamic theory explains how the membrane
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- The cytoplasm acts as an excitable medium during nerve impulse generation and transmission.
- The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in generating and transmitting transmembrane potential.
- A feedback mechanism within the plasma membrane is essential for stabilizing nerve impulse stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a coherent model for nerve impulse self-regulation.
- To investigate the role of a single feedback mechanism in nerve membrane excitability.
- To analyze the electrodynamic properties of the nerve membrane capacitor.
Main Methods:
- Development of an electrodynamic theory within a cable model framework.
- Modeling the membrane capacitor as a charge-management component with a capacity-voltage characteristic.
- Analysis of both myelinated and myelin-free nerve fiber contexts.
Main Results:
- Transmembrane excitations are well-localized, short impulses.
- The shape and stability of these impulses are determined by the membrane's capacity-voltage characteristic.
- This characteristic governs the self-excitability properties of the nerve membrane.
Conclusions:
- A single feedback mechanism associated with the plasma membrane adequately explains nerve impulse self-regulation.
- The capacity-voltage characteristic of the membrane capacitor is key to impulse stability and form.
- The proposed model is applicable to both myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers.
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