Quantum statistical mechanics of message transport in nerves

Abstract

In Mathematical Biosciences 5(1969), 495–509, I introduced a new theory of message transport in nerves based on an interpretation of the role played by the sodium ion diffusion in the transport process. In this paper I report the results of a quantum statistical mechanical theory of the fundamental message transport step. The theory is developed using the assumption that the message charge transfer step and the sodium ion diffusion from the Donnan nonequilibrium state are coupled through modes of the environmental dielectric continuum. The analysis is carried out by means of second-order, time-dependent, quantum mechanical perturbation theory. The analysis yields an expression for the message current which is of the form of a second-order kinetic process. The requirement of at least a second-order rate for the message transport mechanism was pointed out in the above mentioned paper.