IUBio

Consciousness

Joe Legris jalegris at xympatico.ca
Fri Nov 21 09:30:52 EST 2003


John H. wrote:
> Would someone please explain to me this persistent tendency to describe the
> nervous system as having electricity? Electricity involves the movement of
> electrons, nervous transmission involves the movement of ions. I don't
> understand.
> 

The propagation of action potentials in neurons involves ionic currents 
  AND electrical conduction. If it were not for local electrical 
conduction, the action potential would not get past the axon hillock. 
Furthermore, myelinated axons depend on electrical conduction to 
propagate the action potential between successive nodes of Ranvier. 
Electrical conduction accounts for the high propagation speed of 
myelinated axons.

-- 
Joe Legris





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