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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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Neurons: The Axon01:21

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Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment....
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Action Potential01:14

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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.
Membrane potential in neurons
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Action Potential01:31

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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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Neuronal Communication01:28

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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...
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The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

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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....
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions
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Multichannel activity propagation across an engineered axon network.

H Isaac Chen1, John A Wolf, Douglas H Smith

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America. Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America.

Journal of Neural Engineering
|February 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Researchers studied neuronal activity in a model brain network. They found that neuronal ensembles better distinguish input patterns than individual cells, offering insights into the brain's neural code.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • Mapping brain connections (connectome) is advancing, but understanding how this organization drives brain function, particularly data transmission between neural nodes, remains challenging.
  • The complexity of neural interconnectivity makes it difficult to isolate and study signal propagation, a key aspect of the neural code.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the propagation of neuronal activity across an isolated in vitro 'connectome unit.'
  • To model long-range cortico-cortical networks using axon stretch growth to study information processing and transmission.
  • To explore how input patterns are represented, transformed, and distinguished by cortical networks.

Main Methods:

  • Created a modular in vitro network of cortical neurons connected by axon tracts using axon stretch growth.
  • Employed optical stimulation and multi-electrode array recording techniques to analyze neuronal responses.
  • Utilized glutamatergic blockade to reveal network pathways and analyzed neuronal ensemble performance in pattern discrimination.

Main Results:

  • Stimulus representations became more complex with increasing distance but decreased in information content at higher stimulation frequencies.
  • A hierarchy of network pathways, including latent circuits, was identified during internodal activity propagation.
  • Neuronal ensembles demonstrated superior ability compared to individual neurons in discriminating input patterns, with non-linear effects observed across network layers.

Conclusions:

  • Neuronal activity propagation in cortical networks is complex, transforming single inputs into diverse outputs across multiple layers.
  • The study provides insights into brain information processing and the generation of the neural code.
  • Findings may inform the development of clinical therapies involving multichannel brain stimulation.