Summary

In the nervous system, in addition to synapses at cell-cell junctions, it has been found that information is processed also in axons which are cables for outputting signals. That is, various functions are affected by information processing in axons, such as transmission of sensory input,information processing in the central nervous system, and control of motor functions. Therefore, when modeling biological systems, considering the effect of axonal communication is important. In this study, we aim to understand how axons modulate the signals during conduction.

Based on the technique of measuring propagating activity along axons of cultured neurons using microfabricated devices, we will record the action potential conduction from various axons such as unmyelinated/myelinated, central/peripheral nervous system neurons. Furthermore, we plan to evaluate the contribution of various ion channels in axonal conduction, by pharmacological blockade of specific ion channels. Based on the above data, we aim to model the conduction characteristics of axons and to clarify the essential influence that the conduction modulation in axons has on the behavior of the nervous system.