Externet Posted July 24, 2023 Posted July 24, 2023 Whatever brain neurones do for communication among/between them; do they do it in analog or digital ? -Am not joking- When the brain 'orders' to say a word; the neurons 'orders' are received by any neurons at the lips/tongue/vocal chords or directly by their muscles ?
iNow Posted July 25, 2023 Posted July 25, 2023 https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/cv.html Read the above first, but depending on the nature of your uncertainty the following may feel more relevant https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ap.html
Externet Posted July 25, 2023 Author Posted July 25, 2023 Thank you. The 'pulse' graphic at the second link appears more as 'digital' (open / closed channel) communication than an 'analog' behavior conveying varying quantitative sensations.
iNow Posted July 25, 2023 Posted July 25, 2023 (edited) I’d consider the process as analog, and it’s just that the sodium-potassium channels depolarize at a very specific concentration threshold Edited July 25, 2023 by iNow
CharonY Posted July 26, 2023 Posted July 26, 2023 It is basically both. The opening of channels is first analog (i.e. neurotransmitter bind to receptors and trigger opening of ion channels). Depending on how many and which channels are opened or closed, the potential of the membranes changes accordingly. This then changes once a certain threshold of depolarization is crossed as then a positive feedback kicks in, resulting in the action potential. So one could see it as an analog phase first which can then become digital. The signal that travels distally across the axon is the digital component that then results in release of neurotransmitters, where the analog part at the next neuron starts.
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