A compartment model with variable ion channel density on the propagation of action potentials along a nonuniform axon

Abstract

The transmission of a signal through an axon is studied using a compartment model of a nonuniform axon. We find that the transmission efficiency in these axons has nonlinear mode-locking structure that depends on the relative ion channel density. The refractory period of the soma is found to be longer than that of its axon and this structure appears by it. Our study suggets that non-uniform axons can actively participate in information processing.