Measuring Action Potentials via Suction Electrode in Animal Ganglia

Note: Click on image to access poster

Summary

Considerable research has been done examining the method of nerve signal initiation and propagation in model organisms. However, few to no experiments have encompassed a hybrid technique using both electrical signal collection and laser signal analysis. The focus of this research is to determine the efficacy of a hybrid experimental technique and applications for this type of research. Several animal models have large nerve fiber axons that can be studied using a microscope and an electrode probe including crayfish, earthworms, squid, crickets, and cockroaches. In this study, we stimulate sensory receptors and collect nerve transmission data using a student-fabricated electrode probe and a photonics setup to correlate data tissue dynamics.  This research should lead to interesting undergraduate research applications in the future.