How is information transmitted in a nerve?

TL;DR

This paper reviews the experimental properties of nerve impulses, discusses alternative models to Hodgkin-Huxley, and emphasizes the importance of its core features despite ongoing debates and proposed improvements.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of nerve impulse transmission models, highlighting the robustness of Hodgkin-Huxley's core features against recent alternatives.

Findings

Experimental data support Hodgkin-Huxley's essential features

Some alternative models are ruled out by experimental evidence

Hodgkin-Huxley model remains a foundational framework

Abstract

In the last fifteen years a debate emerged about the validity of the famous Hodgkin-Huxley model for nerve impulse. Mechanical models have been proposed. This note reviews the experimental properties of the nerve impulse and discusses the proposed alternatives. The experimental data, which rule out some of the alternative suggestions, show that, while the Hodgkin-Huxley model may not be complete, it nevertheless includes essential features that should not be overlooked in the attempts made to improve, or supersede, it.