Modelling Neuronal Activity Alterations Caused by MMW-THz Mediated Melting of Lipid Membrane

Abstract

Heating is the most obvious effect that exposure to millimeter-wave-to-terahertz (MMW-THz) radiation has on living tissue. It is expected that the resulting increase in temperature causes up regulation of cellular mechanisms, e.g. increased rate of action potential (AP) generation. However, some studies have demonstrated the opposite. Here we show, using a simple computer model of a neuron, the passive cell parameters (affected by MMW exposure) that might be responsible for the suppression of action potentials (AP) even with temperature increases of as much as 10 °C.

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