Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity

Details Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity

2012-02-21

arxiv.org/abs/1202.4710v1

European Biophysics Journal, 2012, Volume 41, Number 3, 319-327

Physics

Biological Physics

Scientific paper

10.1007/s00249-012-0787-7

Signals recorded from neurons with extracellular planar sensors have a wide range of waveforms and amplitudes. This variety is a result of different physical conditions affecting the ion currents through a cellular membrane. The transmembrane currents are often considered by macroscopic membrane models as essentially a homogeneous process. However, this assumption is doubtful, since ions move through ion channels, which are scattered within the membrane. Accounting for this fact, the present work proposes a theoretical model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity. The model is based on the hypothesis that both potential and charge are distributed inhomogeneously on the membrane surface, concentrated near channel pores, as the direct consequence of the inhomogeneous transmembrane current. A system of continuity equations having non-stationary and quasi-stationary forms expresses this fact mathematically. The present work performs mathematical analysis of the proposed equations, following by the synthesis of the equivalent electric element of a heterogeneous membrane current. This element is further used to construct a model of the cell-surface electric junction in a form of the equivalent electrical circuit. After that a study of how the heterogeneous membrane conductivity affects parameters of the extracellular electrical signal is performed. As the result it was found that variation of the passive characteristics of the cell-surface junction, conductivity of the cleft and the cleft height, could lead to different shapes of the extracellular signals.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Extracellular electrical signals in a neuron-surface junction: model of heterogeneous membrane conductivity will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-424010