The Concept of Transmission Pathway in Neurons
Ethical principles used in resolving ethical dilemmas
January 12, 2023Telemedicine
January 12, 2023The Concept of Transmission Pathway in Neurons
The Concept of Transmission Pathway in Neurons
Summarization of Heimberg’s Point of view:
Douglas Fox wrote the article “The Brain, Reimagined.” He described the proposal and the
arguments of Heimberg about neuronal signaling mechanisms. Heimberg experimented on a
woman in Copenhagen. He wired the arm of the subject with two electrodes. The subject was
injected with the medium-acting anesthetic Lidocaine in a dose strong enough that could deaden
the limb. Heimberg applied the electric current to see what would happen. When Thomas
increased the jolts 10 times higher than the initial value of 40 milliamperes, the anesthetized
hand of the subject twitched. The electric shocks had finally overcome the effect of anesthesia.
The arm was moving exhibiting the same strength it had before the administration of anesthesia.
Thomas uttered fervently:
“The things that were written in the books are in contradiction to this”
After doing this activity, Heimberg concluded that the anesthetics work by changing the
mechanical properties of the nerves. Thomas argues that the neurons are just mechanical
machines and electric impulses are the side effects of physical shock waves. According to
Thomas Heimberg, the anesthetics soak into the fatty membrane covering the nerve fibers and
render them too soft to transmit the signals. As per his account, the nerve impulse (to which he
refers as a mechanical shock wave) should squeeze the membrane lipid molecules into liquid
crystals ─ a phase change that would release heat. Once the impulse passed, the membrane
would revert to the fluid state after reabsorbing the heat. He suggested that the anesthetics
deaden the nerve by preventing this phase transition. He vehemently contends that overcoming
this effect is possible by applying mechanical pressure in the form of electrical shock.
A Neuron:
The central nervous system is composed of billions of neurons. The neurons are interconnected
intimately, intricately, and sophisticatedly. They work collectively to propagate a message within
CNS and execute the required response. The term “nerve” refers to the bundle of nerve fibers
wrapped in a sheath of fatty acids called myelin sheath which is secreted by Schwann’ Cells in
the peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. The salutatory
impulses travel over the myelin sheath in a faster manner. Each neuron is composed of a cell
body, axon, and dendrites. Dendrites receive the nerve impulse and pass it on to the axon.
Functionally, neurons are divided into three types: i) Sensory neuron, ii) Motor neuron, and iii)
interneuron. The sensory neuron is associated with the perception of different kinds of sensations
that are experienced by our body. The motor neuron is associated with the effectors and executes
the motor response when the information is relayed back from CNS. The interneuron is the
communicating neuron between sensory and motor neurons. It relays information between them.
Interneurons can also communicate with each other and form structures of greater complexities.
It is also referred to as the “middle man.”
The neurons are very specific for their functions. Alpha nerve fibers are related to proprioception
and motor skills. Beta fibers are specific for the touch and pressure. Delta fibers carry the
sensations of pain and temperature. The pathways are already established in our nervous system
which is different from each other and carry the information for which they’re specialized. The
dorsal column medial lemniscus system is associated with vibration, proprioception, and two-
point discrimination. The lateral spinothalamic tract is associated with pain. The corticospinal
tract is associated with discreet and skilled motor activities.
Electricity and nerve impulse transmission in the Nervous System
Rebuttal 1: Nerve transmission is electrical, not mechanical
