The Physics of Nerves

TL;DR

This paper proposes a thermodynamic macroscopic model for nerve pulse propagation that explains additional features like anesthesia, challenging the traditional electrical microscopic models.

Contribution

It introduces a simple thermodynamic model based on membrane properties, expanding understanding of nerve pulses beyond electrical phenomena.

Findings

Explains phenomena of anesthesia using thermodynamics

Accounts for features of nerve pulse propagation not explained by electrical models

Provides a unified macroscopic framework for nerve pulse behavior

Abstract

The accepted model for nerve pulse propagation in biological membranes seems insufficient. It is restricted to dissipative electrical phenomena and considers nerve pulses exclusively as a microscopic phenomenon. A simple thermodynamic model that is based on the macroscopic properties of membranes allows explaining more features of nerve pulse propagation including the phenomenon of anesthesia that has so far remained unexplained.