NATURE OF THE ACTION CURRENT IN NITELLA

Abstract

Some infrequently occurring (about 5% of total observed) forms of the action curve in Nitella are descr. They may be accounted for on the ground that the outer protoplasmic surface shows no rapid electrical change. This may be due to the fact that the longitudinal flow of the outgoing current of action is in the protoplasm instead of the cellulose wall. Hence the action curve has a short period with a single peak which does not reach zero. Some of the records resemble those obtained with nerve.