An effective framework to study signal transmission due to non-homogeneous extracellular space in neuron

Abstract

Nerve conduction velocity studies are essential to understanding neurological disorders like ALS, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatic nerve disorders, and multiple sclerosis, which are marked by slowed signal conduction. Various ions in the extracellular space (ECS) and the nerve fiber regulate signal propagation, making it crucial to analyze ECS’s impact on signal transmission. This study examines how a non-homogeneous extracellular space affects nerve conduction velocity using a modified cable model that incorporates ECS parameters such as its diameter and resistance. The results suggest that a non-homogeneous extracellular space significantly impacts the conduction velocity of propagating signals, leading to variations in the conduction velocity, signal delays, phase shifts, and resonance. The model has been thoroughly examined using various combinations of electrophysiological parameters of the ECS and nerve fibers to simulate a wide range of biological conditions, and the simulated results have been consistent and align with the existing findings.