I like to think of Na+, K+, Ca++ and the corresponding myriad of channels as the colors that our neurons are using to paint their pictures. So many non-linearities, so many effects (from geometry to channel electrophysiology) that it seems like a never-ending battle to comprehend our brain, but a fun a battle at least. :)
Do you think there are other mechanisms involved in neural signal processing then action potentials and synaptic mechanisms? Do you think that the electric field generated by a given small region can have a significant effect on another region so that we should include them in network simulations?
That is a very interesting point you made there about the electrical field effecting other region. Well that might, but only at areas adjacent to where it is being produced because the electric fields being produced in our body are probably not strong enough to influence distant areas. But this requires a lot more research.
About your point on synapses, yes, definitely.Not every neuron is stimulated by synaptic connections in our body. There are certain receptor neurons that response to stimuli like pressure, vibration and even light (neurons in the retina). For these neurons, the stimulus are these sensation and no synapses are involved to generate the action potential.
About action potentials, I don't see any other way!! I mean however you stimulate a neuron, for the information to be generated and transmitted, an action potential has to be generated.
Thanks for this great comment!!
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