The century-old picture of a nerve spike is wrong: filaments fire, before membrane
10 May 2022
Highlight: The directionality of the neuronal signal is being determined within the neuron by means of the microtubules rather than on the outside of the neuron (external membrane). This is significant in that the information used to chose the direction is vast given that there are 86 Billion neurons in the brain (some having multiple direction), and each neuron contains tens of thousands to hundreds of thousand of microtubules. All of these components must be coordinated and that is one of the reasons the ORCH in ORCH OR stands for orchestrated (like a symphony per Hameroff).
| The article challenges the traditional understanding of nerve signaling, which has long focused on the membrane potential (the electrical spike) as the primary mechanism of action potentials. Instead, the authors propose that internal cytoskeletal filaments, specifically microtubules, play a critical role in initiating and propagating nerve signals. Their research suggests that these filaments "fire" before the membrane spike, indicating that the process of nerve signaling begins at the intracellular level rather than being solely a membrane phenomenon. This paradigm shift opens new perspectives on how neurons communicate and function, with potential implications for neuroscience and neurobiology. |
The publication proposes a paradigm shift in understanding nerve signaling, suggesting that internal cytoskeletal filaments, specifically microtubules, initiate firing before the well-known membrane [of the neurons] potential spike. This challenges the century-old model that emphasizes the membrane's role in neuronal communication.
EXPERIMENT INFORMATION
1.
Summary of Key Experiments and Findings that Support the Firing of Filaments Before Membrane Spikes
The key experiments that challenge the traditional view of membrane-dominated action potentials focus on intracellular dynamics, specifically cytoskeletal components like microtubules. Researchers conducted experiments using advanced imaging techniques and nanotechnologies to observe the activity within neurons at a much finer resolution than traditional methods allow. These experiments revealed that microtubules exhibit electrical activity before the membrane potential spike occurs. This finding suggests that the signaling begins within the neuron itself, possibly through the movement of ions or electrical charges along these filaments, preceding the classic depolarization of the membrane. These experiments provide direct evidence that intracellular filaments, rather than just the membrane, may initiate nerve signals.
2.
Description of How These Internal Filaments Are Observed to Conduct or Influence Electrical Activity
Microtubules, which are part of the neuron’s cytoskeleton, have been shown to influence or directly conduct electrical activity, a concept that contrasts with traditional views of nerve signaling. These filaments are thought to behave as nano-conductors, capable of transmitting electrical signals through the movement of charged particles along their length. Experiments have demonstrated that microtubules can sustain and propagate electrical pulses independently of membrane activity. This suggests that they may act as a secondary system of information transmission within neurons, either complementing or preceding the membrane spike. The precise mechanism remains under study, but observations point to a role in amplifying or modulating the nerve signal before it reaches the membrane.
3.
Comparison Between Traditional Electrophysiological Recordings and New Observations of Filament Behavior
Traditional electrophysiological recordings, such as those measuring membrane potential changes with electrodes, have long focused on tracking the electrical spikes that occur across the neuronal membrane during action potentials. These methods have been instrumental in developing our understanding of nerve signaling but are limited to observing surface-level changes in membrane voltage. In contrast, the new observations of filament behavior use advanced technologies, such as high-resolution microscopy and nanoscale sensors, to detect electrical activity within the neuron itself, specifically along microtubules. Unlike the clear, rapid membrane depolarizations recorded in traditional methods, these filament activities show subtler, earlier electrical pulses. This difference suggests that electrical signaling may begin in the neuron’s interior, adding a new dimension to our understanding of how neurons process and transmit information.
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Figure 2. (a)
Dielectric resonance microscope: biomaterials are kept on a metal or conducting plate. The tip scans through the surface, sending electromagnetic signals of various frequencies to the material and receiving the returned signal post-metal sheet reflection. (b) Coaxial probe and patch clamps are used together while measuring the filamentary firing and membrane firing. (c) The design of a coaxial probe.
My question: If the electric flow is being determined within the neuron rather than between neurons, where does the information come from that determines this flow. Since the ORCH OR theory suggests that consciousness is derived from the microtubules at the quantum level, and this experiment is supportive of that idea, then should we be considering that our consciousness is being derived from trillions of connections in the quantum realm that are coordinated and synchronized.
Opinion: I suspect that the connection to the quantum is a connection to a higher dimension and energy state that is operating backwards in time. That the end result has been determined and as such the circuits within the brain can be turned on with each neuron to complete the circuits and pull the electrical signal in a specific conscious direction. This is not to suggest that we are not choosing the direction, only that it is not our physical bodies determining our choices. I say this because attempting to build the circuit in a linear fashion (like the traditional model) would not be occurring quickly enough and with the correct directional choice (with multiple directions of a neuron and trillions of probable circuit outcomes) if each was attempting to do it in a forward time sequence. I also suspect that the the reason a dielectric resonance microscope is being used is because the dielectric is what is coming from the higher quantum dimension.
Source
Quantum Vitalism: Schrödinger’s idea that quantum coherence could explain life’s essence.
Microtubules: Structures within neurons essential for processing information and consciousness.
Anesthesia’s Mechanism: Anesthesia interrupts quantum processes in microtubules, affecting consciousness.
Coherent Oscillations: Importance of coherent oscillations in organic molecules as indicators of life.
Neural Complexity: Neurons operate through complex interactions, not merely as simple switches.
Signs of Life: Identifying coherent oscillations and quantum effects in extraterrestrial molecules.
Orchestrated Objective Reduction: A theory proposing that consciousness arises from quantum processes in the brain.
Quantum Coherence and Life: Quantum coherence might be foundational to understanding life and consciousness. This suggests that life may arise from deeper quantum processes rather than traditional biological definitions. 
Microtubules as Consciousness Hubs: Microtubules are key players in neural function, suggesting that consciousness may be more complex than previously thought, involving intricate quantum dynamics. 
Impact of Anesthesia: The mechanism by which anesthesia affects consciousness underscores the link between quantum processes and conscious experience, revealing vulnerabilities in our understanding of consciousness. 
Oscillations in Living Systems: Coherent oscillations in biomolecules could be fundamental indicators of life, expanding the criteria for identifying life forms beyond Earth. 
Neuronal Networks vs. Simple Models: Viewing neurons as merely computational units is limiting; the brain’s complexity involves intricate interactions that contribute to consciousness. 
Critique of Computational Models: Current computational theories may not adequately explain consciousness, suggesting a need for new frameworks that incorporate quantum mechanics.