NEUR3101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Voltage Clamp, Hydraulic Circuit, Current Clamp
Document Summary
Note: look at learning objectives to know what we need to know for the exam. Understand the importance of conductance" and know how to calculate it using ohm"s law for neurophysiologists". Understand the difference between voltage clamp" & current clamp" as a way of finding membrane conductance. Understand the two basic properties of ion channels permeation & gating and why they are important. Know some of the basic structural features of ion channels. Have an understanding of how permeation and gating are implemented at the protein level. Easier to think in terms of electrical circuits (but its really flow of ions rather than electron flow) Voltage/pressure is lost as current flows through the resistance. I = 1/r x v or i = g v. G is conductance a/v measured in siemens s, also called mho. Conductance = ease of passage of current ("permeability") Ohm"s law says: for a fixed v" (potential), bigger g" means bigger i".
