Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Action Potential01:14

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 Potential01:14

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...
Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview01:21

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...
Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles01:24

Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles

Every cell in the body maintains a membrane potential due to an uneven distribution of positive and negative charges across its plasma membrane. The membrane potential is measured in millivolts and quantifies the difference in charge across the membrane.
Like neurons, muscle cells are also regarded as excitable due to their capacity to change in response to stimuli, primarily due to voltage-gated ion channels embedded in their plasma membranes, which get activated by alterations in the cell's...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hair care product use among pregnant women of color: protocol for a feasibility educational intervention.

Frontiers in reproductive health·2026
Same author

County-Level Food Insecurity and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2025
Same author

The hair tales of women of color in Northern Manhattan: a qualitative analysis.

Frontiers in reproductive health·2024
Same author

Redox Reactions of Biologically Active Molecules upon Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Treatment of Aqueous Solutions.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2022
Same author

The Epidemiology of Pregnancy-Related Breast Cancers: Are We Ready to Deliver?

Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·2022
Same author

Cold atmospheric pressure He-plasma jet and plasma ball interactions with the Venus flytrap: Electrophysiology and side effects.

Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2021

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Electrophysiological Method for Recording Intracellular Voltage Responses of Drosophila Photoreceptors and Interneurons to Light Stimuli In Vivo
11:42

Electrophysiological Method for Recording Intracellular Voltage Responses of Drosophila Photoreceptors and Interneurons to Light Stimuli In Vivo

Published on: June 19, 2016

Electrotonic and action potentials in the Venus flytrap.

Alexander G Volkov1, Chrystelle L Vilfranc, Veronica A Murphy

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL 35896, USA. agvolkov@yahoo.com

Journal of Plant Physiology
|February 21, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Venus flytraps exhibit electrical responses to touch and electrical stimulation. Specific voltage thresholds trigger trap closure, revealing insights into plant electrical signaling and communication.

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Recording of The Central Nervous System Activity of Third-Instar Drosophila Melanogaster
06:45

Electrophysiological Recording of The Central Nervous System Activity of Third-Instar Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: November 21, 2018

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels
09:55

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Published on: February 14, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Electrophysiological Method for Recording Intracellular Voltage Responses of Drosophila Photoreceptors and Interneurons to Light Stimuli In Vivo
11:42

Electrophysiological Method for Recording Intracellular Voltage Responses of Drosophila Photoreceptors and Interneurons to Light Stimuli In Vivo

Published on: June 19, 2016

Electrophysiological Recording of The Central Nervous System Activity of Third-Instar Drosophila Melanogaster
06:45

Electrophysiological Recording of The Central Nervous System Activity of Third-Instar Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: November 21, 2018

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels
09:55

Examining Monosynaptic Connections in Drosophila Using Tetrodotoxin Resistant Sodium Channels

Published on: February 14, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Plant electrophysiology
  • Biophysics
  • Carnivorous plant research

Background:

  • The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has long fascinated scientists due to its unique electrical phenomena and rapid trap closure mechanism.
  • Previous research has established the role of electrical signals in triggering the Venus flytrap's response to mechanical stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the electrical responses of the Venus flytrap to both mechanical and direct electrical stimulation.
  • To characterize the nature of electrotonic potentials and action-potential-like signals within the plant.
  • To determine the voltage threshold for trap closure and model the plant's electrical behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs to induce electrotonic potentials.
  • Electrostimulation of leaf circuits using various voltage functions (instantaneous, sinusoidal, triangular).
  • Analysis of electrical signal propagation and characteristics.
  • Development of a discrete electrical circuit model to replicate observed responses.

Main Results:

  • Mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs generates electrotonic potentials in the lower leaf.
  • Electrostimulation induces propagating electrotonic potentials, with responses being nonlinear to instantaneous voltage changes and linear to non-instantaneous changes.
  • The amplitude and sign of electrotonic potentials are dependent on the applied voltage's polarity and amplitude.
  • Electrical stimulation of the lower leaf elicits action potential-like signals, leading to trap closure at voltages exceeding 4.4V.
  • Observed electrical responses were successfully modeled using a discrete electrical circuit.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates the complex electrical signaling within the Venus flytrap, demonstrating how mechanical and electrical stimuli evoke distinct responses.
  • Understanding these electrical phenomena provides a basis for further research into intracellular and intercellular communication via electrical signals in plants.
  • The developed electrical circuit model serves as a valuable tool for simulating and analyzing plant bioelectrical processes.