THE MODEL OF AN EXTRACELLULAR ELECTRIC FIELD OF A NEURON

A mathematical model of the extracellular electric field of an active neuron is proposed under a set of simplifying assumptions. The basic assumption is that the electric field is quasi‐stationary. Consequently, the field potential can be obtained by solving the Laplace equation. The main aim of the model is to formulate boundary conditions, which are not rotationally symmetric, and to include the influence of dendrites in the computations. A formula representing the electrical and geometrical composition of the nerve cell is developed, which describes the time and space behavior of the extracellular potential. The results obtained from the model and experimental data closely agree. Possible applications of the model as a means of interpreting experimental data are discussed.