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Propagation of Action Potentials

Propagation of Action Potentials

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...

Action Potential

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Neural Activity Propagation in an Unfolded Hippocampal Preparation with a Penetrating Micro-electrode Array

Neural Activity Propagation in an Unfolded Hippocampal Preparation with a Penetrating Micro-electrode Array

Published on: March 27, 2015

Propagating wave activity in a tangential cortical slice.

Charles C Lee¹

¹Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

|February 15, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a new brain slice method to study neural waves. Local neural interactions, not long-range connections, appear sufficient to generate these widespread cortical waves.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Neural Activity Propagation in an Unfolded Hippocampal Preparation with a Penetrating Micro-electrode Array

Neural Activity Propagation in an Unfolded Hippocampal Preparation with a Penetrating Micro-electrode Array

Published on: March 27, 2015

Acute Mouse Brain Slicing to Investigate Spontaneous Hippocampal Network Activity

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Published on: August 28, 2020

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

A Large Lateral Craniotomy Procedure for Mesoscale Wide-field Optical Imaging of Brain Activity

Published on: May 7, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience
Systems Neuroscience

Background:

Propagating neural waves in the cerebral cortex are crucial for integrating sensory information with ongoing neural activity.
The specific neural circuit elements responsible for generating these cortical waves are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a novel experimental preparation for studying cortical wave propagation.
To investigate the neural circuit basis of propagating cortical waves.

Main Methods:

A novel tangential slice preparation of the dorsal cortex was developed.
Autofluorescence imaging was used to assess propagating wave activity after focal electrical stimulation.
Laser-scanning photostimulation with glutamate uncaging was employed to analyze functional connectivity.

Main Results:

The novel slice preparation successfully exhibited propagating wave activity.
Analysis revealed a lack of short-latency, long-range monosynaptic connections (>300 μm) within the slice.
These findings suggest local cortical circuit interactions are sufficient for wave propagation.

Conclusions:

The developed slice preparation is a valuable tool for studying cortical dynamics.
Local neuronal interactions, rather than long-range connections, may primarily support widespread cortical wave activity.