Theory of electromechanical effects in nerve.

The electromechanical transduction mechanisms operating in nerve membranes are considered theoretically. For mechanical-to-electrical transduction (mechanical generator potentials), a model is proposed in which the surface charge on the membrane mediates stress-induced changes in the intramembrane electric field, thus opening transmembrane ion conductance channels or reducing the ion selectivity of the membrane via leak conductance pathways. For electrical-to-mechanical transduction (axon diameter change with excitation), an investigation into two well-known electrostatic properties of dielectrics, electrostriction and piezoelectricity, in the context of the nerve membrane is undertaken which predicts a few percent change in axon dimensions for voltage- and space-clamped axons.