Basic Neurophysiology

Neurophysiology is the study of the function of the nervous system.

Membrane Ion Channels

All animal cells are enclosed in a plasma membrane, which separates its cytoplasm with the extracellular environment. Cell membrane has the structure of a lipid bilayer, with large molecules embedded in it. Concentration of ions are different across the cell membrane, with more sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) outside the cell, and more potassium ions (K+) and negative charged protein molecules (A-) inside the cell. Selective ion channels at rest allow potassium ions (K+) cross the membrane easily, creating a voltage more negative inside the cell than outside, which is called resting membrane potential. The resting membrane potential of a neuron is about -70 mV.

Action Potential

An action potential is the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell in response to a stimulus, which occurs as the electrical potential briefly (about 1ms) rises and falls (Hodgkin and Huxley). Specifically, an action potential occurs when the threshold is reached (-65 mV) which activates the voltage-gated ion channels to open. When the threshold is reached: Na+ channels open and Na+ rushes into the cell while K+ channels open slowly and K+ leaves the cell, the cell then becomes hyperpolarized (Pinel, 2017). There are three phases of an action potential: the rising phase (Na+ and K+ channels open), repolarization (Na+ channels close), and hyperpolarization (K+ channels start to close).

Propagated Neural Activity

An action potential is generated near the axon hillock when the threshold is reached (-65 mV), the signal is then propagated down (travels) the axon. Active axonal conduction is due to the diffusion of Na+ into the cell which creates waves of depolarization whereas passive axonal conduction occurs as the signal travels down a myelinated axon along each segment, an action potential is generated at each node of Ranvier between the segments (Pinel, 2017) propagated from one node to the next (saltatory conduction).

Axons that are wrapped in myelin (fatty substance), which serves as insulation of the signal, have faster communication than unmyelinated axons. The nodes of Ranvier are unmyelinated areas on the axon where the ions flow (e.g., Na+, K+).

Synaptic Transmission

The process by which neurons communicate with each other is synaptic transmission which occurs across synapses using either electrical or chemical signals. Electrical signaling occurs as an action potential travels from the pre- to the postsynaptic neuron via gap junctions. However, most synaptic transmission involves chemical signals. These chemicals are neurotransmitters, molecules which can function either directly (ionotropic) or indirectly via second messengers (metabotropic). The steps in chemical neurotransmission are: synthesis of the neurotransmitter (in the soma), storage of the neurotransmitter in the vesicles, release into the synapse, binding to the receptor on the postsynaptic neuron, and inactivation of the neurotransmitter via reuptake or enzymatic degradation which terminates the action of the neurotransmitter in the synapse.