electrophysiological

Electrophysiological refers to the study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues. In practice, electrophysiology encompasses measurements and manipulations of membrane potentials, action potentials, and synaptic or cardiac electrical activity. It covers neurons, glial cells, muscle, and sensory systems. The aim is to understand how electrical signals generate, propagate, and influence physiological processes.

Techniques range from invasive intracellular and patch-clamp recordings to extracellular single-unit and multi-unit recordings, voltage-clamp and current-clamp configurations, sharp microelectrodes, and local field potentials. Non-invasive or bedside methods include electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG), electromyography (EMG), and evoked potentials. Recording setups require electrodes, amplifiers, and data acquisition systems; stimulation can be electrical or combined with optogenetic or pharmacological methods.

Applications include mapping neural circuits, studying synaptic transmission and ion channel function, diagnosing neurological disorders such as epilepsy, and guiding neurosurgical planning. In cardiology, electrophysiology helps diagnose arrhythmias, study conduction pathways, and guide ablation therapies. Safety considerations and ethical guidelines govern invasive procedures, especially in humans and animals.

History note: The field advanced with the development of patch-clamp techniques by Neher and Sakmann, enabling measurement of ion channel activity. The term electrophysiological thus relates to both basic physiology and clinical practice across neuroscience, cardiology, and muscle biology.