Electrophysiological recording methods

Although the nervous impulse is accompanied by effects that can under specially favourable conditions be detected with radioactive tracers, or by optical and thermal techniques, electrical recording methods normally provide much the most sensitive and convenient approach. A brief account is therefore necessary of some of the technical problems that arise in making good measurements both of steady electrical potentials and rapidly changing ones.

In order to record the potential difference between two points, electrodes connected to a suitable amplifier and recording system must be placed at each of them. If the investigation is only concerned with action potentials, fine platinum or tungsten wires can serve as electrodes, but any bare metal surface has the disadvantage of becoming polarized by the passage of electric current into or out of the solution with which it is in contact. When, therefore, the magnitude of the steady potential at the electrode tip is to be measured, non-polarizable or reversible electrodes must be used, for which the unavoidable contact potential between the metal and the solution is both small and constant. The simplest type of reversible electrode is provided by coating a silver wire electrolytically with silver chloride, but for the most accurate measurements calomel (mercury/mercuric chloride) half-cells are best employed.

When the potential inside a cell is to be recorded, the electrode has to be very well insulated except at its tip, and so fine that it can penetrate the cell membrane with a minimum of damage and without giving rise to electrical leaks.