Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 400
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30556-5

Regular Article

A compartment model with variable ion channel density on the propagation of action potentials along a nonuniform axon

¹ Nonlinear and Complex System Laboratory, Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 790-784 Pohang, Republic of Korea
² Department of Physics, Seoul Science High School, Hyehwadong, Jongroku, 110-530 Seoul, Republic of Korea
³ Institute for Edge of Theoretical Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 790-784 Pohang, Republic of Korea

^a e-mail: swan@postech.ac.kr

Received: 5 July 2012
Received in final form: 28 September 2012
Published online: 6 December 2012

Abstract

The transmission of a signal through an axon is studied using a compartment model of a non-uniform axon. We find that the transmission efficiency in these axons has nonlinear mode-locking structure that depends on the relative ion channel density. The refractory period of the soma is found to be longer than that of its axon and this structure appears by it. Our study suggets that non-uniform axons can actively participate in information processing.