What Powers The Brain?
I know that the brain uses electrical inpulses to control body functions and the thought process. But without batteries, how can electrical impulses be generated? Is it purely chemical?
I know that the brain uses electrical inpulses to control body functions and the thought process. But without batteries, how can electrical impulses be generated? Is it purely chemical?
copenhagen smile
Favorite Answer
Yes, it's purely chemical potential that drives neural impulses. Recall what it is that powers batteries themselves? Chemical potential. In the voltaic cell or common battery this potential is generated by reactions between a chemical, most often a very strong acid like sulfuric acid, and some material, usually a metal like copper. In the brain, the potential difference is a result of 2 chemicals, sodium and potassium. That's it in a nutshell.
Anonymous
Energy is stored in cells in a chemical called ATP. This molecule stores energy in the chemcial bonds. ATP drives most of the cellular processes, including the production of the resting membrane potential. Basically, the chemical energy of ATP is converted to a battery by pumping ions (Na+ and K+) into and out of the cell. By pumping these ions in a very specific way, the cell creates a voltage potential where the charge is greater outside the cell than it is inside the cell. When the cell receives a chemical message that stimulates that cell, channels are opened that allow the ions to flow back down their concentration gradient. In other words, the electricity is allowed to flow when the cell is stimulated. Once the electrical pulse travels down the cell, the cellular machinery uses ATP to regenerate the battery (voltage potential or resting membrane potential). This happens over and over, and it is the way in which the brain is powered.
Anonymous
purely chemical.
the difference in charge between the inside and the outside of the cell is called the membrane potential. it is maintained around -70mv in most cases. so the inside is more negative than the outside. some of this negative charge comes from proteins, which carry a negative charge. also, the cell pumps out positively charged ions.
when the cell is depolarized, say by release of excitatory neurotransmitter from another cell, the receptor for that neurotransmitter causes the immediately surrounding membrane to allow positive charge inside, bringing the membrane potential toward the positive. this triggers voltage sensitive channels, which continue the signal all the way to the axon terminal, where the depolarization sets off the release of a synaptic vesicle containing neurotransmitter.
drkeys143
In the case of the average male, I would think the Penis
Anonymous
its powered by nutrients oxygen and glucose alnog with nerone impulses