Nerve Signals (IMAGE)

University of Copenhagen - Niels Bohr Institute

Nerve Signals

Caption

The illustration shows two nerve signals passing through each other completely unhindered. This confirms the theory that the signal is made up of waves in the form of a sound pulse, a soliton, which moves along the nerve membrane. As the sound pulse moves along the nerve pathway, the membrane changes locally from liquid (green) to more solid (red) form. The membrane is slightly compressed, and a voltage pulse is produced by the piezoelectric effect.

Credit

(Credit: Marie Dyekjær Eriksen, NBI)

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(Credit: Marie Dyekjær Eriksen, NBI)

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