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Electrophysiological-mechanical coupling in the neuronal membrane and its role in ultrasound neuromodulation and general anaesthesia

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Jerusalem, Antoine 
Al-Rekabi, Zeinab 
Chen, Haoyu 
Malboubi, Majid 

Abstract

The current understanding of the role of the cell membrane is in a state of flux. Recent experiments show how conventional models, considering only electrophysiological properties of a passive membrane, are incomplete. The neuronal membrane is an active structure with mechanical properties that shape electrophysiology, e.g., protein transport, lipid conformational state, membrane pressure and stiffness can all influence membrane capacitance and potential propagation. A mounting body of evidence indicates that neuronal mechanics and electrophysiology are coupled, together shaping the membrane potential in tight coordination with other physics. In this review, we summarise recent updates concerning electrophysiological-mechanical coupling in neuronal function. In particular, we aim at making the link with two relevant yet often disconnected fields with strong clinical potential: the use of mechanical vibrations—ultrasound—to alter the electrophysiogical state of neurons, e.g., in neuromodulation, and the theories attempting to explain the action of general anaesthetics.

Description

Keywords

Neuroscience, cell multiphysics, neuromodulation, transcranial ultrasound, stimulation, anaesthetics

Journal Title

Acta Biomaterialia

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1742-7061
1878-7568

Volume Title

97

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
The authors acknowledge funding from the EPSRC Healthcare Technologies Challenge Award EP/N020987/1.