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As some of you know, I am very interested in the science of seizures on an atomic, molecular, and anatomical level. I hope others will find this at least somewhat interesting.
After watching a Spider Man movie, I thought it would be interesting to understand how electric eels are able to generate electric discharges. There our some parallels as to how our own bodies work. For example, our stress response, or fight or flight response, changes the electrical nature of our bodies, and subsequently can trigger seizures.
The eels are able to control their discharges with their brains. Their ability to control their discharges suggests that neurofeedback can help those of us who have E. It would be interesting to see exactly how much electricity our brains generate simply by thinking, or how much our abdominal organs generate to facilitate digestion, or as we respond to stress as well. The following was taken from Wikipedia. (Certain catfish can also generate small electrical discharges).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The electric eel has three pairs of abdominal organs that produce electricity: the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sach's organ. These organs make up four-fifths of its body, and are what gives the electric eel the ability to generate two types of electric organ discharges: low voltage and high voltage. These organs are made of electrocytes, lined up so a current of ions can flow through them and stacked so each one adds to a potential difference. When the eel locates its prey, the brain sends a signal through the nervous system to the electrocytes. This opens the ion channels, allowing sodium to flow through, reversing the polarity momentarily. By causing a sudden difference in electric potential, it generates an electric current in a manner similar to a battery, in which stacked plates each produce an electric potential difference. In the electric eel, some 5,000 to 6,000 stacked electroplaques are capable of producing a shock at up to 600 volts and 1 ampere of current (600 watts) for a duration of two milliseconds. It would be extremely unlikely for such a shock to be deadly for an adult human, due to the very short duration of the discharge. Still, this level of current could in theory cause electrocution in humans, depending on the path the current takes through the human body, and the duration of current flow.[citation needed] Heart fibrillation (reversible via a heart defibrillator) can be triggered by electric currents of 700 mA for more than 30 ms.[citation needed]
The Sach's organ is associated with electrolocation.[4] Inside the organ are many muscle-like cells, called electrocytes. Each cell can only produce 0.15 V, though the organ can transmit a signal of nearly 10 V overall in amplitude at around 25 Hz in frequency. These signals are emitted by the main organ; the Hunter's organ can emit signals at rates of several hundred Hertz.[4]
The electric eel is unique among the Gymnotiformes in having large electric organs capable of producing potentially lethal discharges that allow them to stun prey.[5] Larger voltages have been reported, but the typical output is sufficient to stun or deter virtually any animal. Juveniles produce smaller voltages (about 100 V). They are capable of varying the intensity of the electric discharge, using lower discharges for hunting and higher intensities for stunning prey, or defending themselves. When agitated, they are capable of producing these intermittent electric shocks over a period of at least an hour without tiring.
The electric eel also possesses high frequency-sensitive tuberous receptors, which are distributed in patches over its body. This feature is apparently useful for hunting other Gymnotiformes.[4]
Electric eels have been used as a model in the study of bioelectrogenesis.[6] The species is of some interest to researchers, who make use of its acetylcholinesterase and adenosine triphosphate.
After watching a Spider Man movie, I thought it would be interesting to understand how electric eels are able to generate electric discharges. There our some parallels as to how our own bodies work. For example, our stress response, or fight or flight response, changes the electrical nature of our bodies, and subsequently can trigger seizures.
The eels are able to control their discharges with their brains. Their ability to control their discharges suggests that neurofeedback can help those of us who have E. It would be interesting to see exactly how much electricity our brains generate simply by thinking, or how much our abdominal organs generate to facilitate digestion, or as we respond to stress as well. The following was taken from Wikipedia. (Certain catfish can also generate small electrical discharges).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The electric eel has three pairs of abdominal organs that produce electricity: the main organ, the Hunter's organ, and the Sach's organ. These organs make up four-fifths of its body, and are what gives the electric eel the ability to generate two types of electric organ discharges: low voltage and high voltage. These organs are made of electrocytes, lined up so a current of ions can flow through them and stacked so each one adds to a potential difference. When the eel locates its prey, the brain sends a signal through the nervous system to the electrocytes. This opens the ion channels, allowing sodium to flow through, reversing the polarity momentarily. By causing a sudden difference in electric potential, it generates an electric current in a manner similar to a battery, in which stacked plates each produce an electric potential difference. In the electric eel, some 5,000 to 6,000 stacked electroplaques are capable of producing a shock at up to 600 volts and 1 ampere of current (600 watts) for a duration of two milliseconds. It would be extremely unlikely for such a shock to be deadly for an adult human, due to the very short duration of the discharge. Still, this level of current could in theory cause electrocution in humans, depending on the path the current takes through the human body, and the duration of current flow.[citation needed] Heart fibrillation (reversible via a heart defibrillator) can be triggered by electric currents of 700 mA for more than 30 ms.[citation needed]
The Sach's organ is associated with electrolocation.[4] Inside the organ are many muscle-like cells, called electrocytes. Each cell can only produce 0.15 V, though the organ can transmit a signal of nearly 10 V overall in amplitude at around 25 Hz in frequency. These signals are emitted by the main organ; the Hunter's organ can emit signals at rates of several hundred Hertz.[4]
The electric eel is unique among the Gymnotiformes in having large electric organs capable of producing potentially lethal discharges that allow them to stun prey.[5] Larger voltages have been reported, but the typical output is sufficient to stun or deter virtually any animal. Juveniles produce smaller voltages (about 100 V). They are capable of varying the intensity of the electric discharge, using lower discharges for hunting and higher intensities for stunning prey, or defending themselves. When agitated, they are capable of producing these intermittent electric shocks over a period of at least an hour without tiring.
The electric eel also possesses high frequency-sensitive tuberous receptors, which are distributed in patches over its body. This feature is apparently useful for hunting other Gymnotiformes.[4]
Electric eels have been used as a model in the study of bioelectrogenesis.[6] The species is of some interest to researchers, who make use of its acetylcholinesterase and adenosine triphosphate.
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