THE INITIATION OF IMPULSES IN AXONS

Abstract

This paper is the 2d of a symposium of 5 on the synapse. Evidence is presented indicating that manifestations commonly regarded as peculiarly synaptic such as latency, one-way transmission, repetition, facilitation and transmission of the action potential across a nonconducting gap are demonstrable in a nerve fiber. It is not possible to invoke chemical transmission as the mechanism of this facilitation or of this transmission across a gap; they must have an electrical basis.