BIOM5101/SYSC5307 – BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS

Assignment 1
Student Name: Aditi Biswas & Student ID: 101193708
Sol 1.i:
There are few assumptions that has been made to solve the given problem-
• The average conduction velocity of an action potential can be from 1m/s to 100 m/s [1]. The
velocity depends on the axonal diameter of the neuron [1]. For this problem it is assumed that
the velocity is 5m/s.
• For each scenario, stimulation time is calculated from 0 second.
In graph the x-axis represents the time, and the y-axis represents the voltage.
The considered value for resting membrane potential, action potential peak and threshold voltage
are -70mV, +30mV and -55mV.
a) A stimulus is given at -40cm or -0.4m.
For Vm1, the distance = (0.4-0.05) = 0.35 m.
Time taken, t1 = Distance(D)/Velocity (V)= 0.35/5 = 0.07 Sec or 70mSec.
For Vm2, the distance = (0.4+0.05) = 0.45m.
Time taken, t2 = 0.45/5 = 0.09 Sec or 90mSec

Figure 1 shows the waveform when stimulus is provided at -40 cm. When the transmembrane
potential is measured at -5 cm position of the axon to measure Vm1, the time is 70 milliseconds.
Similarly, at +5 cm position of the axon the time will be 90 milliseconds.

So, we will get two wave forms for Vm1 and Vm2 at 70ms and 90 ms respectively. Here, the
depolarization and repolarization of the action potential wave form are drawn nearby of the
calculated time for Vm1 and Vm2 as we do not know for sure exactly what time precisely the
stimulus excited the axon, and it crossed the threshold voltage. Here we also assumed we will
get the Vm1 and Vm2 at the peak of the action potential wave form. This assumption is same
for all the given scenarios.
 Figure 1

b) A stimulus is given at +40cm or +0.4m.

For Vm1, the distance = (0.4+0.05) = 0.45 m.
Time taken, t1 = Distance(D)/Velocity (V)= 0.45/5 = 0.09 Sec or 90mSec.
For Vm2, the distance = (0.4-0.05) = 0.35m.
Time taken, t2 = 0.35/5 = 0.07 Sec or 70mSec

Figure 2 shows the waveform when stimulus is provided at +40 cm. When the transmembrane
potential is measured at -5 cm position of the axon to measure Vm1, the time is 90 milliseconds.
Similarly, at +5 cm position of the axon the time will be 70 milliseconds.

So, we can notice that the wave form in scenario b looks same as scenario a but the time when
Vm1 and Vm2 is calculated is opposite.
 Figure 2

c) A stimulus is given at +0cm or +0m.

For both Vm1 and Vm2 the distance will be 5 cm or 0.05 m.
Time taken, t = Distance (D)/Velocity (V)= 0.05/5 = 0.01 Sec or 10mSec.

Figure 3 shows the waveform when stimulus is provided at 0 cm. When the transmembrane
potential is measured at -5 cm position of the axon to measure Vm1, the time is 10
milliseconds. Similarly, at +5 cm position of the axon the time will be 10 milliseconds.

So, at the same time Vm1 and Vm2 are generated and both wave forms are overlapping. That
is why in figure 3 there is only one wave form.
 Figure 3

d) A stimulus is given at +40cm and -40 cm.

In figure 4 waveforms of scenario (a) and (b) overlap with each other and at 70mSec and 90mSec
both Vm1 and Vm2 are be generated. As stimulus are provided from -40cm and +40 cm
simultaneously, wave from generated from both side and overlap each other.
 Figure 4
e) Here, at three points (+40, -40 and 0 cm) of the axon stimulus is provided simultaneously.
Here we assumed that all the stimulus strength are same. The assumption is for to avoid the
fact that at which point cell will be excited first according to the strength of stimulus.

At 10ms (0cm point) action potential will be happened first as this is the earliest time as
calculated. At the other two point no action potential will be generated. We know that action
potential is a ‘all or nothing’ process and action potential does not occur at ‘relative
refractory’ period. When from -40 cm and +40 cm point wave form can not be generated as it
will collide with the absolute refractory period of the action potential at 0cm.
 Figure 5

Sol 1.ii:
a) From the given figure we can see that for electrode A, fiber 1 is the nearest fiber, then fiber 3
and then fiber 3. We approximate the horizontal and vertical distance of the three fibers in
terms of given x and y distance for electrode A.
Fiber 1: Horizontal distance- x/2, Vertical-y/2
Fiber 2: Horizontal distance- x, Vertical-y

Fiber 3: Horizontal distance- x/3, Vertical- 3y/2

So in figure 6 we can see the nearest fiber 3 will generate the action potential first than the
other two fiber but as it is vertically more far from electrode A than fiber 1, the amplitude will
lesser than fiber 1.

Figure 6
b) For electrode B the approximate distance of all three fibers are-

Fiber 1: Horizontal distance- x/2+z, Vertical- y/2 [the z is measured after electrode A to B]
Fiber 2: Horizontal distance- x+z, Vertical- y
Fiber 1: Horizontal distance- x/3+z, Vertical- 3y/2

So, for electrode B the wave forms will be also same as electrode A but as the numeric value
for the distances is different so the time for occurring action potential will be different. For
fiber 2 the delay for action potential is the most.

Figure 7
c) Electrode C and A are just in opposite direction. So, the horizontal distance for each fiber
from electrode C is same but for fiber 3 the vertical distance is lesser than fiber 1. So, Fiber 3
will have more amplitude than fiber 2.

Figure 8
d) For electrode D we can see from the given picture that fiber 2 is the nearest fiber to this
electrode. So the action potential for fiber 2 will occur first. Fiber 3 will have the most delay
for occurring action potential.

Figure 9
If the motor unit only consisted of the one muscle fiber in the middle, then also the wave form will
be same. We will just have only one wave form for each electrode.

References:
[1] Hursh JB (1939). "Conduction velocity and diameter of nerve fibers". American Journal of
Physiology. 127: 131–39. doi:10.1152/ajplegacy.1939.127.1.131.