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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.

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.

Non-gated Ion Channels

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.

Ion Channels

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...

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Updated: May 24, 2026

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

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Published on: February 8, 2011

Sodium-activated potassium channels are functionally coupled to persistent sodium currents.

Travis A Hage¹, Lawrence Salkoff

¹Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|February 24, 2012

Summary

Researchers discovered a new coupled system of sodium-activated potassium currents (I(KNa)) and persistent sodium currents (I(NaP)) in the brain. This finding reveals how I(KNa) is activated and suggests new mechanisms for tuning neuronal excitability.

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Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Recapitulation of an Ion Channel IV Curve Using Frequency Components

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Patch Clamp and Perfusion Techniques for Studying Ion Channels Expressed in Xenopus oocytes

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Published on: May 9, 2021

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cellular Electrophysiology

Background:

The source of intracellular sodium (Na+) activating sodium-activated potassium currents (I(KNa)) was previously unknown.
Persistent sodium currents (I(NaP)) are known to be active at resting potentials in neurons.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the source of Na+ that activates I(KNa).
To elucidate the functional relationship between I(NaP) and I(KNa) in neuronal excitability.

Main Methods:

Electrophysiological recordings from single membrane patches of rat neurons.
Analysis of sodium influx through I(NaP) and its effect on K(Na) channel activation.

Main Results:

Sodium influx via I(NaP) sufficiently activates K(Na) channels, independent of bulk intracellular Na+ or transient sodium currents.
I(NaP) activation at resting potentials provides a mechanism for evoking I(KNa) from negative holding potentials.
A novel negative feedback system is identified where I(NaP) activates I(KNa) to counteract its own excitatory effects.

Conclusions:

A previously unrecognized coupled system of I(KNa) and I(NaP) exists in the brain.
I(NaP) plays a critical role in activating I(KNa), offering new insights into neuronal excitability regulation.
The interplay between I(NaP) and I(KNa) presents novel mechanisms for neurons to modulate their electrical activity.