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Action Potentials

Action Potentials

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...

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...

Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview

Electrochemical 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...

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism

Published on: October 17, 2025

Explaining pathological changes in axonal excitability through dynamical analysis of conductance-based models.

Jay S Coggan¹, Gabriel K Ocker, Terrence J Sejnowski

¹Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Journal of Neural Engineering

|November 8, 2011

Summary

This study explains the biophysical basis of abnormal neuronal spiking in neurological diseases. Using a minimal axon model, researchers identified how persistent inward currents and feedback mechanisms drive paroxysmal symptoms.

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Published on: May 16, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Neurons communicate via action potentials (spikes).
Abnormal spiking patterns underlie paroxysmal neurological symptoms, but their mechanisms are unclear.
Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for treating neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the biophysical basis of 'paroxysmal' spiking, specifically afterdischarge.
To explain the initiation and termination of abnormal repetitive neuronal firing.

Main Methods:

Developed a minimal conductance-based axon model.
Replicated neuronal afterdischarge in the model.
Applied nonlinear dynamical analysis to study system dynamics.

Main Results:

Identified bistability between rest and repetitive spiking states due to slow positive feedback from persistent inward currents.
Afterdischarge initiation occurs when persistent inward currents cross a saddle point.
Afterdischarge termination results from ultra-slow negative feedback (e.g., sodium accumulation) destabilizing the spiking attractor.

Conclusions:

The model explains the dynamics of paroxysmal spiking, including afterdischarge initiation and termination.
Findings provide insights into the pathophysiology of neurological diseases with paroxysmal symptoms.
The model accounts for phenomena like temporal summation and refractoriness in abnormal neuronal firing.