Noise Analysis and Single-Channel Recordings

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of noise measurements to the study of the ionic channels that are responsible for the voltage modulation of the conductance of axonal membranes. The chapter presents the basic concepts of fluctuation analysis and the physical basis of membrane noise. Membrane noise in general contains several components that are not simply related to the discrete nature of ionic channels. An understanding of all possible noise sources is, therefore, essential for the unambiguous interpretation of membrane noise in terms of channel fluctuations. In addition, the channel noise is analyzed based upon the fundamental assumption that ionic channels have a relatively small number of states that are kinetically distinguishable within the time resolution of the measuring apparatus. The chapter emphasizes on the application of patch recording techniques to the study of ionic channels in the squid axon membrane. The patch recordings have provided the most convincing definite proof of the notion that guided the interpretation of noise data.