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Action Potentials

Action Potentials

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...

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....

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...

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...

Nervous System

Nervous System

The nervous system coordinates body functions through its complex network of nerve cells, enabling sensation and movement. It is divided into two primary parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and coordinating responses. The spinal cord functions as a major signaling pathway for the brain and the rest of the body.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

Published on: March 31, 2016

A microscale soft ionic power source modulates neuronal network activity.

Yujia Zhang¹, Jorin Riexinger², Xingyun Yang²

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. yujia.zhang@chem.ox.ac.uk.

|August 30, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a miniaturized soft power source using hydrogel droplets for bio-integrated devices. This novel ion-current generator offers on-demand energy for microscale biological stimulation.

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Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo

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Published on: March 31, 2016

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Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

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Published on: January 19, 2019

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Materials Science
Neuroscience

Background:

Bio-integrated devices require efficient microscale power sources.
Existing power solutions are often not biocompatible, flexible, or ionically driven.
Miniaturized power sources that store and release energy on-demand are challenging to create.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a miniaturized, soft, biocompatible power source for microscale biological stimulation.
To create an energy source that generates ionic current, inspired by biological systems.
To enable on-demand operation for modulating cellular and tissue activity.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of lipid-supported networks of nanolitre hydrogel droplets.
Utilizing internal ion gradients within hydrogel droplets to generate energy.
Characterization of power density, energy storage, and biocompatibility.

Main Results:

Developed a miniaturized soft power source with a volume reduction over 10^5-fold compared to previous designs.
Achieved energy storage for over 24 hours, enabling on-demand operation.
Demonstrated a 680-fold increase in power density (approx. 1,300 W m^-3).

Conclusions:

The novel hydrogel droplet device functions as a biocompatible ionic current source.
Successfully modulated neuronal network activity in 3D neural microtissues and ex vivo mouse brain slices.
This soft microscale ionotronic device holds potential for integration into living organisms.