Our bodies rely on electricity to function. Tiny electrical signals called action potentials race through the brain, heart, muscles and bones on a constant basis.
In the heart, the sinoatrial node acts as the natural pacemaker, generating electrical signals that cause the heart to contract in a regular rhythm. The rate is controlled by the amount of time it takes cells to reset their electrical charges between signals.
In the brain, neurons use electricity in the form of action potentials to rapidly transmit signals along their long fibers called axons. The signals move faster when the axons are wrapped in an insulating myelin sheath. Abnormal electrical signaling in the brain has been linked to conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Deep brain stimulation is a treatment that uses electric currents from implanted electrodes to interrupt pathological signaling patterns in the brain associated with conditions like depression and Parkinson’s.
Bones are piezoelectric, meaning they generate tiny electric charges when bent or strained. These signals help regulate bone cells to remodel and strengthen bones in response to stress. Engineers are studying how electrical stimulation could help combat bone loss in astronauts.
In summary, the precise control of electricity through our cells underlies critical functions in many body systems and is an active area of research into diagnosing and treating diseases.
Source: Science News Explores
