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Theory of electromechanical effects in nerve

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The electromechanical transduction mechanisms operating in nerve membranes are considered theoretically.

  2. 2.

    For mechanical-to-electrical transduction (mechanical generator potentials), a model is proposed in which the surface charge on the membrane mediates stress-induced changes in the intramembrane electric field, thus opening transmembrane ion conductance channels or reducing the ion selectivity of the membrane via leak conductance pathways.

  3. 3.

    For electrical-to-mechanical transduction (axon diameter change with excitation), an investigation into two well-known electrostatic properties of dielectrics, electrostriction and piezoelectricity, in the context of the nerve membrane is undertaken which predicts a few percent change in axon dimensions for voltage- and space-clamped axons.

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Author notes

  1. John A. Connor

    Present address: Department of Biophysics, Bell Telephone Labs, 07974, Murray Hill, New Jersey, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Bioengineering Program, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    David Gross & Wendell S. Williams

  2. School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, New York, USA

    David Gross

  3. Department of Ceramic Engineering, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Wendell S. Williams

  4. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    John A. Connor

Authors
  1. David Gross
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  2. Wendell S. Williams
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  3. John A. Connor
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Gross, D., Williams, W.S. & Connor, J.A. Theory of electromechanical effects in nerve. Cell Mol Neurobiol 3, 89–111 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735275

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00735275

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