A Mechatronics view at nerve conduction

Abstract

Stimulated by ongoing discussions about the relevance of mechanical motion in the propagation of nerve signals capillary waves of water-based electrolytes in elastic tubular systems are considered as an essential ingredient. Their propagation velocities, controlled by the elastic properties and geometry of the neuron membrane as well as the density of the confined electrolyte, are shown to very well match observed nerve conduction velocities. As the capillary wave packets experience little damping and exhibit non-linear behavior they can propagate a soliton excitation. The orientation of water dipoles by the high electric fields up to about 10 million V/m in the about 1 nm thin layer adjacent to the elastic neuron membrane causes radial forces that modulate the diameter of the nerve cell with a change of the voltage bias across the cell membrane, caused, e. g., by local injection of ions. Acting like an electrically driven peristaltic pump the cell body thus can launch capillary waves into the axon which also transport neutral dipole current pulses modulated the varying voltage bias. At the synaptic end of the axon these dipole current pulses can cause voltage changes and initiate chemical signaling. In contrast to the traditional Hodgkin-Huxley model of nerve conduction the proposed mechanisms avoids charge currents and thus exhibits low dissipation. Specific features that could further influence and verify the proposed alternative mechanisms of nerve conduction are discussed.