The neuron as a temporal electroacoustic medium

Abstract

The human brain is one of the most complex and intriguing scientific topics. The most stablished theory of neuronal communication is a pure electrical model based on the propagation of intracell cationic charges along the neurons. Here we propose a complementary model based on two properties of brain communication: A) The large Coulomb repulsion within the intracell Na+ cation pulse at the Action Potential (AP) induces a deformation of the neuron membrane which travels as an acoustic signal, i.e.: the intracell ion pulse makes both the electric and acoustic signals be strongly correlated. B) As brain communication is stablished through a periodic train of AP pulses it induces a time periodic modulation of the acoustic parameters. In this framework we propose envisaging the neuron as a temporal electro-acoustic medium. The temporal varying media framework could help understanding brain conundrums such as propagation routes involved in the neuronal plasticity in the consolidation of the memory, as well as on the generation of the signals associated to the brain field theory.