4 ms·
Interesting. I knew most of that more or less but didn't know the mechanism by which the myelin sheath speed up the propagation of action potentials but it make
by james_s_tayler 6y ago
Interesting. I knew most of that more or less but didn't know the mechanism by which the myelin sheath speed up the propagation of action potentials but it makes sense.
- kkylin 6y agoHodgkin and Huxley, who figured out how the basic mechanism underlying action potentials, worked on the squid giant axon because it's so large, up to 1.5mm in diameter. And the reason is large is that invertebrates do not have myelin, and the large diameter helps speed up signals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_giant_axon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_giant_axon
- HarryHirsch 6y agoIt starts with the telegraph equation. Try this magisterial and slightly obsessive book: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/cellular-biophysics-2-vol-set https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/cellular-biophysics-2-vol-set
- phasetransition 6y agoInteresting. Oliver Heaviside continues his posthumous exploits.