Electrophysiologic

Electrophysiologic is an adjective relating to electrophysiology, the field that studies the electrical properties and activity of biological cells and tissues. It covers methods that record, analyze, or influence electrical signals generated by excitable cells such as neurons, cardiac myocytes, and skeletal muscle fibers.

Techniques include intracellular and extracellular recordings, patch-clamp and voltage-clamp methods, and microelectrode arrays for single- and multi-site measurements. Noninvasive approaches include electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) with nerve conduction studies, and evoked potentials. Invasive methods are used in cardiac electrophysiology, where intracardiac mapping and programmed stimulation guide ablation to treat arrhythmias.

Applications span cardiology, neurology, and neuromuscular medicine. Cardiac electrophysiology studies diagnose and treat rhythm disorders; neurological electrophysiology assesses epilepsy, sleep disorders, brain function, and neuroinflammation; EMG and nerve conduction study evaluate peripheral nerves and muscles.

In research, electrophysiologic techniques elucidate ion channel function, action potential generation, and synaptic transmission, informing drug development and neuromodulation therapies. Interpretations rely on the modality, electrode placement, and experimental conditions, while artifacts and safety considerations shape practice.

Historically, electrophysiology developed from 19th- and 20th-century investigations into bioelectricity, with milestones including Galvani’s experiments and Hodgkin and Huxley’s work on the nerve impulse.