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Dipolar extracellular potentials generated by axonal projections.

Thomas McColgan1, Ji Liu2, Paula Tuulia Kuokkanen1,3

  • 1Department for Biology, Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

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|September 6, 2017
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Axonal contributions to extracellular field potentials (EFPs) are significant, contrary to prior assumptions. This study demonstrates that axon terminal zones generate substantial EFPs, impacting neuroscience research and modeling.

Keywords:
auditory brainstem responseaxonsbarn owlbiophysicsextracellular field potentiallocal field potentialneuroscience

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Extracellular field potentials (EFPs) are crucial in neuroscience but their physiological basis is debated.
  • Axonal contributions to EFPs are often disregarded due to assumptions of negligible impact.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify the significance of axonal contributions to EFPs.
  • To challenge the prevailing assumption that axonal sources are negligible in EFP generation.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of action potentials propagating along axons.
  • Experimental validation using multielectrode array recordings in the barn owl auditory brainstem (nucleus laminaris).

Main Results:

  • Modeling revealed prominent EFPs in regions with dense axonal branching and termination zones.
  • Predictions included a dipolar far field and polarity reversal at terminal zone centers.
  • Experimental recordings confirmed these predictions, showing considerable EFP amplitude and spatial reach from axonal sources.

Conclusions:

  • Axonal terminal zones are significant generators of EFPs, with considerable amplitude and spatial reach.
  • The findings necessitate a re-evaluation of the role of axons in EFP generation and interpretation.
  • This research impacts neuroscience modeling and data analysis by highlighting previously overlooked axonal contributions.