ACTION POTENTIAL ARTIFACTS FROM SINGLE NERVE FIBERS

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Abstract
Action potentials are led off from single nerve fibers of about 40 [mu] diam. prepared from the crayfish, Cambarus clarkii. A new method for leading off from single fibers is described; the fiber is placed in the angle of the V of a trough cut into a strip of Lucite. Fluid leads enter at the angle by way of fine pores. The amt. of fluid about the fiber is limited and controlled by means of trough "lids." Under these conditions though the external action potential decreases as the fluid, and therefore the conductance, about the fiber is increased, the shape, duration and velocity of the action potential remain unchanged. The medium about the fiber acts as a linear conductor for the action current. Artifacts resulting from irregularities in the conductance outside the fiber are described. Two special types of artifacts, one giving a response proportional to the action potential and one a response proportional to its 1st differential, are illustrated and a mathematical analysis is given for them.