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Nernst Equation

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Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience

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Synonyms

Equilibrium potential

Definition

The Nernst equation describes how the equilibrium potential for an ion species (also known as its Nernst potential) is related to the concentrations of that ion species on either side of a membrane permeable to the ion.

Detailed Description

Physical Basis of the Equilibrium Potential

The membrane potential is the electric potential difference that exists across a membrane which is permeable to an ionic species and which separates solutions of the ionic species at differing concentrations. For example, cell membranes are often permeable to potassium, and the concentration of potassium inside the cell is greater than the concentration outside the cell. Negatively changed anions balance out the positive charge of potassium ions so that the charge inside and outside the cell is neutral, and the membrane is assumed to be impermeable to the anions (Fig. 1).

Nernst Equation, Fig. 1
figure 155 figure 155

A cell containing high, balanced concentrations of potassium ions and...

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References

  • Hille B (2001) Ion channels of excitable membranes, 3rd edn. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland

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  • Johnston D, Wu SM-S (1995) Foundations of cellular neurophysiology. MIT, Cambridge, MA

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  • Nernst W (1888) Zur kinetik der lösung befindlichen Körper: theorie der diffusion. Z Phys Chem 2:613–637

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  • Sterratt D, Graham B, Gillies A, Willshaw D (2011) Principles of computational modelling in neuroscience. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    David C. Sterratt

Authors
  1. David C. Sterratt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David C. Sterratt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Dieter Jaeger

  2. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

    Ranu Jung

Section Editor information

  1. National Research Council, Institute of Biophysics, Palermo, Italy

    Michele Migliore

  2. Computational Physiology Lab, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Christiane Linster

  3. Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Francesco Cavarretta

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Sterratt, D.C. (2022). Nernst Equation. In: Jaeger, D., Jung, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1006-0_232

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