The cortical nerve impulse

Recent progress in cortical physiology and theoretical neuroscience calls for a re-evaluation of our view of cortical action potentials. On this web site we will document topical advances in this intriguing and complex problem on the border of biophysics, cellular physiology, and theoretical neuroscience.

                                    Enjoy, Fred Wolf and Maxim Volgushev

Here is an extended discussion of models of axonal action potential initiation. It complements our reply to the interesting lateral current hypothesis recently raised by McCormick et al. Nature (2007):

The elusive action potential, M. Volgushev, A. Mukovski, F. Wolf

Here is a very interesting biophysical study on cortical sodium channel activation kinetics that reports substantial deviations from the canonical delayed kinetics:

Sodium currents activate without a Hodgkin-and-Huxley-type delay in central mammalian neurons.
G. Baranauskas and M. Martina
Journal of Neuroscience, 2006, 26(2):671- 684

This paper presents a direct biophysical study of the sodium channel properties underlying action potential initiation in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the neocortex:

Ion channel properties underlying axonal action potential initiation in pyramidal neurons.
C.M, Colbert and E. Pan
Nature Neuroscience 2002, 5:533-8.