On the Nernst–Planck equation

Issue title: Extracellular space

Guest editors: Reinoud Maex

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Maex, Reinoud

Affiliations: Ecole Normale Supérieure, rue d’Ulm 29, Paris 75005, France. E-mail: reinoud.maex@ens.fr

Abstract: This review first discusses Nernst’s and Planck’s early papers on electro-diffusion, the brief priority conflict that followed, and the role these papers played in shaping the emerging concept of membrane excitability. The second part discusses in greater detail the constraints of the Nernst–Planck theory, and shows more recent examples of its applicability for neuronal modelling.

Keywords: Electro-diffusion, drift-diffusion, membrane current, cable equation, extracellular space, history of science

DOI: 10.3233/JIN-170008

Journal: Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 73-91, 2017