Photons detected in the active nerve by photographic technique

Andrea Zangari,Roberta Galeazzi,Vittoria Balzano,Antonio Tozzi,Maria Emiliana Caristo,Gabriella Bellavia,Davide Micheli

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82622-5

Abstract

The nervous system is one of the most complex expressions of biological evolution. Its high performance mostly relies on the basic principle of the action potential, a sequential activation of local ionic currents along the neural fiber. The implications of this essentially electrical phenomenon subsequently emerged in a more comprehensive electromagnetic perspective of neurotransmission. Several studies focused on the possible role of photons in neural communication and provided evidence of the transfer of photons through myelinated axons. A hypothesis is that myelin sheath would behave as an optical waveguide, although the source of photons is controversial. In a previous work, we proposed a model describing how photons would arise at the node of Ranvier. In this study we experimentally detected photons in the node of Ranvier by Ag+ photoreduction measurement technique, during electrically induced nerve activity. Our results suggest that in association to the action potential a photonic radiation takes place in the node.

Highlights

The nervous system is one of the most complex expressions of biological evolution
In order to investigate bio-photonic activity in nervous tissue, Sun et al developed a new method called in situ biophoton autography (IBA), which is described in detail in the methods section[12]
By modifying IBA, we have developed a method to detect photons in the node of Ranvier associated to electrical stimulation of nerves

Summary

Introduction

Its high performance mostly relies on the basic principle of the action potential, a sequential activation of local ionic currents along the neural fiber The implications of this essentially electrical phenomenon subsequently emerged in a more comprehensive electromagnetic perspective of neurotransmission. Song et al reported relatively strong coupling of the mid-infrared photon with the vibrons of phospholipid tails in the myelin They proposed that cell vibron polariton in myelin sheaths may provide a promising way for superefficient consumption of extra-weak bioenergy and even directly serve for quantum information[18]. Our group described a model in which electromagnetic waves—in the infrared and optical wavelength range—would be generated at the node of Ranvier, where the sodium currents would behave as an array of emitting nanoantennas[19]. Aim of this study is to investigate the possibility that light-induced reduction of silver occurs in the node of Ranvier, during electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion