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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...

Propagation of Uncertainty from Systematic Error

Propagation of Uncertainty from Systematic Error

The atomic mass of an element varies due to the relative ratio of its isotopes. A sample's relative proportion of oxygen isotopes influences its average atomic mass. For instance, if we were to measure the atomic mass of oxygen from a sample, the mass would be a weighted average of the isotopic masses of oxygen in that sample. Since a single sample is not likely to perfectly reflect the true atomic mass of oxygen for all the molecules of oxygen on Earth, the mass we obtain from this...

Propagation of Uncertainty from Random Error

Propagation of Uncertainty from Random Error

An experiment often consists of more than a single step. In this case, measurements at each step give rise to uncertainty. Because the measurements occur in successive steps, the uncertainty in one step necessarily contributes to that in the subsequent step. As we perform statistical analysis on these types of experiments, we must learn to account for the propagation of uncertainty from one step to the next. The propagation of uncertainty depends on the type of arithmetic operation performed on...

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...

Uncertainty: Overview

Uncertainty: Overview

In analytical chemistry, we often perform repetitive measurements to detect and minimize inaccuracies caused by both determinate and indeterminate errors. Despite the cares we take, the presence of random errors means that repeated measurements almost never have exactly the same magnitude. The collective difference between these measurements - observed values - and the estimated or expected value is called uncertainty. Uncertainty is conventionally written after the estimated or expected value.

Graded Potential

Graded Potential

Graded potentials are localized fluctuations in the cell membrane's electrical charge, commonly found in the dendrites of neurons. The magnitude of these potential changes depends on the strength of the initiating stimulus. In a membrane at its resting potential, a graded potential signifies a voltage shift either above -70 mV or below -70 mV.
Graded potentials fall into two categories: depolarizing and hyperpolarizing. Depolarizing graded potentials typically occur when sodium (Na+) or...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Published on: June 24, 2015

Hierarchical Bayesian Modelling of Variability and Uncertainty in Synthetic Action Potential Traces.

Ross H Johnstone¹, Rémi Bardenet², David J Gavaghan¹

¹Computational Biology, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Computing in Cardiology

|August 8, 2023

Summary

This study quantifies uncertainty in cardiomyocyte action potential (AP) models, successfully inferring ion current density distributions. This improves predictions for drug effects, despite some parameter unidentifiability.

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Published on: November 29, 2012

Area of Science:

Computational biology
Cardiovascular research
Biophysics

Background:

Cardiomyocyte action potential (AP) models face uncertainties from measurements, parameters, and variability.
Existing models with single parameter values limit predictive accuracy for drug effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-parameterize AP models using experimental data and quantify uncertainty in ion current densities.
To propagate this uncertainty into model predictions, such as ion channel block by pharmaceuticals.

Main Methods:

In silico study using synthetic data from varied parameters.
Hierarchical Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to re-infer parameter distributions.
Analysis of uncertainty propagation in drug effect predictions.

Main Results:

Successfully inferred distributions for most ion current densities from AP traces.
Approximated higher-level distributions for sampled parameter values.
Identified some unidentifiability among specific ion current densities.

Conclusions:

Hierarchical MCMC effectively quantifies uncertainty in cardiomyocyte AP models.
Improved prediction of drug effects by incorporating parameter uncertainty.
Acknowledged limitations in parameter identifiability for certain ion currents.