Differences and Similarities Between Millimetre Wave and Thermal Heating Effect on Action Potential Triggering in Leech Interneuron

Abstract

MMW radiation can be used to focally deposit energy into biological tissue, which converts in it into thermal energy due to high absorption properties, specifically of water. As a result, it can affect the functionality of some biological tissues. Neuronal tissue is one of the most susceptible types due to its high sensitivity to environmental changes, such as electric field and temperature. Here we investigate the effect of MMW mediated heating and conventional thermal heating on action potential voltage initiation in spontaneously active interneuron of leech. The results demonstrate that MMW radiation has a different effect to thermal heating but only at initial stages of sample heating.