Very well structured, presenting the complex topic on a readily accessible level, this book is the first to explain all the biological properties of nerve cell membranes.
Without neglecting the known theories of nerve impulse propagation, the monograph focuses on the less known features of nerve cell membranes, such as their mechanical, caloric and optical properties. Based on these properties, the author then develops an electromechanical theory of pulse propagation, offering the most plausible explanation yet for some unresolved questions regarding the effects observed during general anesthesia.
Of prime interest to the biophysical audience working on biomembranes as well for neurobiologists and everyone involved in anesthesia research. Additional features, such as summaries, textboxes and supplementary web material, also make this an excellent companion for teaching.
Without neglecting the known theories of nerve impulse propagation, the monograph focuses on the less known features of nerve cell membranes, such as their mechanical, caloric and optical properties. Based on these properties, the author then develops an electromechanical theory of pulse propagation, offering the most plausible explanation yet for some unresolved questions regarding the effects observed during general anesthesia.
Of prime interest to the biophysical audience working on biomembranes as well for neurobiologists and everyone involved in anesthesia research. Additional features, such as summaries, textboxes and supplementary web material, also make this an excellent companion for teaching.
Table of Contents
Contents1 Introduction
1.1 History of neuroscience
1.2 Nerves
1.3 Electrophysiological findings from Bernstein, Hodgkin-Huxley until today
1.3.1 Julius Bernstein
1.3.2 Curtis & Cole
1.3.3 Hodgkin & Huxley
1.3.4
1.4 Physical findings from Galvani to Tasaki
1.4.1 Galvani & Volta
1.4.2 Helmholtz
1.4.3 Wilke
1.4.4 A. V. Hill
1.4.5 Tasaki
1.5 Membrane permeability
1.5.1 protein channels
1.5.2 lipid channels
1.6 The Hodgkin-Huxley model
1.7 The electromechanical soliton model
1.8 Anesthesia
1.9 Some thoughts about the nature of a scientific theory
2 Experimental data on nerve pulse propagation
2.1 Current and voltage measurements
2.1.1 Membranes as capacitors
2.1.2 The ion selectivity of membranes
2.2 The heat production of nerve
2.3 Mechanical measurements on nerves
2.4 Optical observations
3 The electrophysiological interpretation of nerve data
3.1 The Hodgkin Huxley model
3.2 The FitzHugh-Nagumo Model .
4 Biomembrane theory
4.1 Introduction into thermodynamic
4.2 Thermodynamics of membranes
4.2.1 Membrane melting
4.3 Entropy as a potential
4.4 Fluctuations
4.5 Thermodynamics variables
4.5.1 voltage
4.5.2 pressure
5 Biomembrane composition, melting and adaptation
5.1 Composition
5.2 Biomembrane melting
6 Introduction into hydrodynamics
6.1 History
6.2 The hydrodynamic equations
6.3 Hydrodynamics of membranes
7 Solitons
7.1 History
7.2 Bussinesc solitons
8 Experimental properties of membranes
8.1 heat capacity
8.2 compressibility
8.3 sound velocity
8.3.1 sound propagation on monofilms
8.4 dispersion
9 The electromechanical theory for nerves
9.1 Solitary pulses
9.2 Pulse trains and refractory period
9.3 Stability of pulses
9.4 Pulse energy
9.5 Pulse generation
10 Permeability and Channels
10.1 History
10.2 Patch clamp and black lipid membranes
10.3 Analyzing permeability data
10.4 Channel proteins
10.4.1 Poisons
10.4.2 Mutations
10.4.3 The impossibility of temperature-sensing receptors
10.5 Lipid membrane permeability
10.5.1 Lipid membrane channels
10.5.2 Pore theories
10.5.3 Dependence on the thermodynamic variables
10.5.4 The correlation between membrane properties and protein ion channel function
10.5.5 Sub-levels and power laws
11 Anesthesia
11.1 History
11.2 General anesthestics
11.3 Meyer-Overton rule
11.4 Local anesthetics
11.4.1 What is the dfference between local and general anesthetics
11.5 The action of anesthetics on membranes
11.6 The action of anesthetics on proteins
11.7 Cantor's model for the lateral pressure profile
11.8 Thermodynamics of anesthetics.
11.9 Clinical findings
12 Some observations about human diseases linked to thermodynamic variables.
13 Overview over electromechanical theory.
