A mathematical study of nerve fiber interaction

Abstract

This paper presents a quantitative description of the electric field interaction between two adjacent unmyelinated nerve fibers (one active, the other inactive) for the infinite medium and nerve trunk geometries, and considers their dependence on various electrical and geometrical parameters. Based on the use of synthetic giant axon data, the conclusion of this study is that the cross-sectional area of the nerve trunk and the specific resistivity of the interstitial medium are of particular importance to the degree of fiber interaction. Other factors such as separation distance between fibers, axoplasmic resistivity, membrane resistance, and capacitance of the inactive fiber, are also investigated and found to be of secondary importance.