Voltage dependent switch in the activity mode of the K+ channel in presynaptic nerve terminals

The bursting K+ channel is the most common channel in fused Torpedo presynaptic nerve terminals. It possesses the property of 'statistical memory', demonstrated by non-random probability of channel opening. We examined the voltage dependence of the statistical memory and report that removal of channel inactivation by hyperpolarization abolishes it. Addition of the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine to the bath solution led to disappearance of statistical memory, while raising extracellular potassium concentration had the opposite effect. Another common channel at Torpedo nerve terminals which is a non-selective channel did not exhibit statistical memory. We conclude that statistical memory is a channel-specific phenomenon and speculate regarding its possible role in cellular and network properties of the nervous system.