2020 EJRNL PP Pei Liu -1.pdf
Terbatas Irwan Sofiyan
» ITB
Terbatas Irwan Sofiyan
» ITB
Membrane potential is a fundamental
biophysical property maintained by every cell on earth. In
specialized cells like neurons, rapid changes in membrane
potential drive the release of chemical neurotransmitters.
Coordinated, rapid changes in neuronal membrane potential
across large numbers of interconnected neurons form the
basis for all of human cognition, sensory perception, and
memory. Despite the importance of this highly orchestrated
and distributed activity, the traditional method for recording
membrane potential is through the use of highly invasive
single-cell electrodes that offer only a small glimpse of the
total activity within a system. Fluorescent dyes that change their optical properties in response to changes in biological voltage have the potential to provide a powerful complement to traditional electrode-based methods of inquiry. Voltage-sensitive fluorescent indicators would allow the direct observation of membrane potential changes, significantly expanding our ability to monitor membrane potential dynamics in living systems.