Skip to main content
Log in

Adaptation and accommodation in the squid axon

  • Published:
Biological Cybernetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Current clamp data of the squid axon indicate that there is a qualitative change in the adaptive response as the magnitude of the current step is increased. Large stimulus currents have a strong inhibitory effect on spike generation and on active responses in general. Such currents always lead to only one action-potential and to the elimination of post-spike subthreshold oscillation. In view of a direct connection between stimulus current and potassium current I K, the potassium channel of the Hodgkin-Huxley model is reinterpreted in a natural way such that the K+ conductance is directly dependent on I K in addition to a voltage dependence. The I-Kdependence seems to dominate whenever the stimulus current is greater than approximately 35 μA/cm2. For current ramps, and large current steps, such a current formulation leads to good agreement with the data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adelman, W., Fitzhough, R.: Solutions of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations modified for potassium accumulation in periaxonal space. Abstr. Soc. Neurosc. (1973)

  2. Adelman, W. J., Palti, Y., Senft, J. P.: Potassium accumulation in a periaxonal space and its effect on the measurement of membrane potassium ion conductance. J. Membrane Biol. 13, 387–410 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cole, K. S.: Membranes, ions, and impulses. Berkeley Calif.: Univ. of Calif. Press 1968

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cole, K. S., Antosiewicz, H. A., Rabinowitz, P.: Automatic computation of nerve excitation. J. Soc. Indust. appl. Math. 3, 153–172 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Connor, J. A., Stevens, C. F.: Prediction of repetitive firing behavior from voltage clamp data on an isolated neurone soma. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 213, 31–53 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fitzhugh, R.: Mathematical models of threshold phenomena in the nerve membrane. Bull. Math. Biophys. 17, 257–278 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fitzhugh, R.: Impulses and physiological states in theoretical models of nerve membrane. Biophys. J. 1, 445–466 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fitzhugh, R.: Mathematical models of excitation and propagation in nerve. In: Schwan, H. P. (Ed.). Biological engineering New York: McGraw-Hill 1969

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fitzhugh, R., Antosiewicz, H. A.: Automatic computation of nerve excitation — detailed corrections and additions. J. Soc. Indust. appl. Math. 7, 447–458 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fohlmeister, J.: A model for phasic and tonic repetitively firing neuronal encoders. Kybernetik 13, 104–112 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frankenhaeuser, B.: Delayed currents in myelinated nerve fibers of Xenopus Laevis investigated with voltage clamp technique. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 160, 40–45 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Frankenhaeuser, B.: A quantitative description of potassium currents in myelinated nerve fibers of Xenopus Laevis. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 169, 424–430 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Frankenhaeuser, B., Vallbo, A. B., Accommodation in myelinated nerve fibres of Xenopus Laevis as computed on the basis of voltage clamp data. Acta physiol. scand. 63, 1–20 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hagiwara, S., Oomura, Y.: The critical depolarization for the spike in the squid giant axon. Japan J. Physiol. 8, 234 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hille, B.: A pharmacological analysis of the ionic channels of nerve. Thesis: The Rockefeller University (No. 68-9584). Ann Arbor Mich.: Univ. Microfilms Inc. 1967

  16. Hodgkin, A. L., Huxley, A. F.: A quantitative description of membrane current and its application to conduction and excitation in nerve. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 117, 500 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Research supported by NIH grants NS-5494 and NS-11 695. Computer facilities were made available by a grant from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research AFSC-1221.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fohlmeister, J.F. Adaptation and accommodation in the squid axon. Biol. Cybernetics 18, 49–60 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337055

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337055

Keywords

Navigation