The effects of pH on the electrophysiological properties of the CNS of lymnaea stagnalis

The central nervous system is composed of many different interacting neurons all working together to provide sensory, motor, and visceral signals to the specific organism. The environment in which those neurons operate is crucial to the survival of the organism. Some environmental factors may include pH, temperature, or the intra-and extracellular ion concentration. If any of these factors are changed in a substantial way, the electrophysiological properties of the neuron may be affected. Some of the important electrophysiological properties of the neuron include the resting potential, the action potential, and the firing rate. These properties can be measured directly using sharp microelectrode methodologies. The performed experiments consist of recording the resting potential, action potential, and firing rate from a neuron in the CNS cerebral ganglion of the Lymnaea stagnalis. This paper addresses how various levels of pH affect the electrophysiological properties of neurons in the CNS of L. stagnalis.