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Related Concept Videos

Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

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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...
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A wave is a disturbance that propagates from its source, repeating itself periodically, and is typically associated with simple harmonic motion. Mechanical waves are governed by Newton's laws and require a medium to travel. A medium is a substance in which a mechanical wave propagates, and the medium produces an elastic restoring force when it is deformed.
Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves are some examples of mechanical waves. For water waves, the wave propagation medium is...
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Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

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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...
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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.
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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells
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Mechanical surface waves accompany action potential propagation.

Ahmed El Hady1,2, Benjamin B Machta3,4

  • 1Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.

Nature Communications
|March 31, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mechanical action waves accompany electrical action potentials in neurons. Our model explains these action waves as surface waves driven by the action potential's electrical depolarization, offering insights into their physical origins and functions.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Studies indicate mechanical membrane displacements accompany neuronal action potentials (APs).
  • The physical basis and functional implications of these mechanical events remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a biophysical model explaining the mechanical displacements accompanying neuronal action potentials.
  • To introduce the concept of Action Waves (AWs) as co-propagating mechanical responses to electrical signals.
  • To provide a framework for predicting AW characteristics and understanding their origins.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a theoretical model based on surface wave mechanics.
  • Incorporated elastic properties of the neuronal membrane and cytoskeleton.
  • Modeled kinetic energy transfer via axoplasmic fluid.
  • Linked surface wave driving to the electrical depolarization of the action potential.
  • Used electrostatic forces across the membrane as the driving mechanism.

Main Results:

  • The model predicts co-propagating mechanical displacements, termed Action Waves (AWs), driven by the traveling electrical depolarization of the AP.
  • Potential energy is stored in membrane/cytoskeleton elasticity, kinetic energy in axoplasmic fluid.
  • Model-generated AW shapes align with experimental observations from various systems.

Conclusions:

  • The presented model provides a physical explanation for mechanical displacements accompanying action potentials.
  • Action Waves (AWs) are proposed as a consequence of the AP's electrical properties interacting with neuronal mechanics.
  • This framework facilitates further investigation into the functional roles of AWs in neuronal signaling.