Basics of electrophysiology

Dr. Talar hamaali

MSC neurophysiogy
• Electrophysiology is the branch of science that explores the electrical
activity of living cells and investigates the molecular and cellular
processes that govern their signaling.
 What are the human cells that have electrical
activity ?
• The cells that have electrical activitiy/signalling are called Excitable
cells
Neurons A neuron cell, also known as a neuron or nerve cell, is an electrically excitable cell that
communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses. It is the main component of
nervous tissue.

Muscle fibers
The electrical activity appears as a wave
called (action potential)
• Action potential is a rapid change in polarity of membrane of
excitable cells
• Excitable cells are polarized (negatively charged inside and positively
charged outside)
• When the polarity is reversed they will generate action potential AP
(electrical signal)
• The AP propagates along the membrane to the next cell
Action potential
• Each action potential begins with a sudden change from the normal
resting negative membrane potential to a positive potential and
then ends with an almost equally rapid change back to the negative
potential. To conduct a nerve signal, the action potential moves along
the nerve fiber until it comes to the fiber's end.
Electrical activities are usually recorded from
the following organs;
• Heart
• Skeletal muscles
• Brain
• Eye
EEG (electro encephalograph)
• The EEG is an electrophysiological technique for the recording of
electrical activity arising from the human brain.
• Dx of Epilepsy
EMG (electromyography)
for Dx of peripheral neuromuscular disorders like CTS
VEP (visual evoked potential)
• Used in Diagnosis of Multiple sclerosis or optic nerve damage