elektrofysiologisch

Elektrofysiologisch, or electrophysiological in English, refers to the study of the electrical properties of living tissue and to the methods used to measure those properties. The term describes both the properties themselves and the techniques used to record electrical activity from cells and organs.

The field covers measurements of membrane potentials, ion flows through channels, and the resulting signals generated by neurons, muscle fibers, and other excitable cells. Common techniques include patch-clamp and voltage-clamp methods to quantify ionic currents, current-clamp recordings to monitor membrane potential changes, and intracellular or extracellular recordings. Non-invasive approaches such as electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and electrocardiography (ECG) are widely applied in humans.

Applications span neuroscience, physiology, and medicine. In neuroscience, electrophysiology investigates action potentials, synaptic transmission, and network dynamics. In cardiology, it studies cardiac conduction and arrhythmias, guiding diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. The field also underpins drug testing, neuroprosthetics, and brain-stimulation therapies.

Historically, electrophysiology emerged from early measurements of electrical activity in nerve and muscle, with milestones such as the Hodgkin–Huxley model and the development of the patch-clamp technique in the 20th century. Today, electrophysiological data are increasingly integrated with imaging, molecular biology, and computational modeling to understand complex physiological processes.