I read papers that report several neuronal properties between experimental and control conditions and wonder how I should be selecting data to report on. I see some trends. Spike half-width, rheobase, input resistance, capacitance, and RMP are often shown. Some include others.
Why? How do I choose which to share. Do people report statistically significant findings?
I am wondering what data to report and why? Are these data points often include to please manuscript reviewers?
Can anyone point me to any literature to explain what neuronal properties are most important to show?
I use CLAMPfit software to analyze electrophysiological data and see a lot of options and measurements taken from our readouts.
I think the most important properties associated with neuron firing will be the electromagnetic wave generation capability both individually and collectively. I am working on a hypothesis that the ability of the brain to control focus of attention is derived from electromagnetic waves generated by other neuron network pathways. This is the key to understanding consciousness so i think this aspect of neuron behaviour will be important. See paper here:
https://www.academia.edu/30004610/The_Conscious_Brain
Richard
There are a lot of standard measurements, as you’ve noted: resting membrane potential, resting input resistance, threshold potential, rheobase current, sag potential, etcetera and so forth.
For publication, all of them are equally important (or unimportant). You never go wrong by reporting everything.
But say the question is: what is important to report? Then the answer depends on what you think is going on. If your drug or genetic modification or behavioral training affects BK channels, then you’d want to concentrate on fast afterhyerpolarization and/or spike shape and broadening. If it or they (are hypothesized to) affect HCN channels, then concentrate on sag, rebound, and impedance peak. If SK channels, then medium/slow afterhyperpolarization and spike frequency adaptation. And so on …
I don’t think there is master set of measurements every physiologist should make and report. Really, it depends on what you expect or imagine is going on.
Thank you, Dr. Sesai-- Niraj S. Desai
I appreciate your input as this has been helpful.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Mathematical Sciences
- Graphs