Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Neuronal Communication

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...

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....

Electrical Synapses

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...

Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology

Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology

Biopsychology serves as a vital bridge connecting the intricate domains of biology and psychology, shedding light on how biological systems influence psychological phenomena. This field scrutinizes the biological substrates of behavior and mental processes, emphasizing the nervous system along with the roles of neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics. It also incorporates evolutionary perspectives to explain the adaptive nature of mental functions.
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Upper Limit on the Thermodynamic Information Content of an Action Potential.

Frontiers in computational neuroscience·2020

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Neurobiology as Information Physics.

Sterling Street¹

¹Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA.

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience

|November 30, 2016

Summary

This review explores thermodynamic information in the brain, suggesting it can be objectively measured. Understanding these energy-information links offers insights into brain function and structure.

Keywords:

Bekenstein bound Landauer limit free energy principle information thermodynamics optimization

More Related Videos

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

Photodiode-Based Optical Imaging for Recording Network Dynamics with Single-Neuron Resolution in Non-Transgenic Invertebrates

Photodiode-Based Optical Imaging for Recording Network Dynamics with Single-Neuron Resolution in Non-Transgenic Invertebrates

Published on: July 9, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

Photodiode-Based Optical Imaging for Recording Network Dynamics with Single-Neuron Resolution in Non-Transgenic Invertebrates

Photodiode-Based Optical Imaging for Recording Network Dynamics with Single-Neuron Resolution in Non-Transgenic Invertebrates

Published on: July 9, 2020

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Thermodynamics
Information Theory

Background:

Current systems neuroscience research lacks a unified framework for understanding brain information processing.
The relationship between energy expenditure and information handling in neural systems is not fully elucidated.

Approach:

This article synthesizes existing research on thermodynamic principles applied to the brain.
It proposes quantifiable methods for assessing thermodynamic information within neural systems.

Key Points:

Thermodynamic information in the brain can be objectively quantified.
Qualitative information properties can be inferred from changes in thermodynamic quantities.
Brain anatomy and architecture reveal simple information-energy relationships.

Conclusions:

The brain serves as a model system for understanding fundamental energy-information dynamics.
This thermodynamic perspective offers a novel approach to systems neuroscience.
Further research can leverage these principles to decode complex brain functions.