Physical model of electrical synapses in a neural network

Abstract

A theoretical model of electrical synapses is proposed, in which connexons play the role of nails that hold unmyelinated areas of neurons at a distance of about 3.5 nm, and the electrical connection between them is provided by charging the membrane of an inactive neuron with currents generated in the intercellular electrolyte (saline) by the action potential in the active neuron. This mechanism is similar to the salutatory conduction of the action potential between the nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons and the ephaptic coupling of sufficiently close spaced neurons.

Non‐Covalent Functionalization of Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes with Fmoc Amino Acid‐Modified Polyethylene Glycol

“…This hypothesis is a result of the negative charge of the phospholipid layers in the cell membrane. [65] Moreover, the literature also reported that a higher zeta potential increases cell attachment patterns and results in a higher therapeutic effect. [66,67] Figure 9 shows the zeta potential of the coated and uncoated mCNTs.…”

The possibility of anesthesia stimulated by a train of current pulses

“…where 𝐽 * 𝑡 is a step function corresponding to Figure (2), and 𝐽 , 𝑧 are constant values. Assuming 𝐽 1, we obtain the distribution of currents and potential inside the dielectric cylinder [26][27][28]: 𝐼 , 𝐼 in ( 13)-( 15) are modified Bessel functions of the first kind. Figure 3 shows an example of the calculation results for the selected maximum current on the electrode 𝐽 0.15A, dimensions 𝑅 1 cm, 𝑙 10 cm, 𝑧 5 cm , 𝑧 5.25 cm, 𝑧 0.5 cm, 𝑧 0.575 cm , 𝑧 6 cm, and 𝑠 5 cm .…”

“…Without loss of generality, the stepwise longitudinal current distribution on the electrodes can be approximated by the sum of the exponents: where J ∗ ( t ) is a step function corresponding to Figure (2), and J k , z k are constant values. Assuming J k = 1, we obtain the distribution of currents and potential inside the dielectric cylinder [26-28]: …”