Abstract:
The minimum intensity(threshold) for activating action potential by pulse electrical stimulation is related to stimulus parameters. However, researchers mainly focus on duration-threshold relationships. The effects of frequency, one of the important pulse parameters, on the intensity threshold of action potential are rarely available in the literature. Consequently, on the basis of the HH model and cable model, we constructed a neuron action potential transmission simulation model. By analyzing action potential activation under different impulse stimulus, we investigated the influences of pulse width and frequency on threshold of action potential activation. Results show that the action potential can be induced by the supraliminal stimulation, and action potential can conduct along the axial direction. Time delay for each axial position is different. The subthreshold stimulation can not activate the action potential. Transmembrane potential will fluctuate along the axial direction as a result of external stimulus, and the farther away from the stimulation point, the smaller the fluctuation. With a wide pulse width (> 3 ms) and low frequency (< 100 Hz), the threshold of action potential activation hardly change with the stimulus parameters. When the pulse width decreases (< 3 ms), the wider the pulse width, the lower the threshold. The threshold decreases linearly with the increase of pulse width in log-log scale. When the frequency increases (> 300 Hz), the effects of frequency on intensity threshold is similar to that of pulse width and the threshold decreases significantly with the increase of frequency, which is also linearly correlated in log-log scale. This study may provide theoretical references for the design of pulse generator in electrical stimulation therapy and the selection of stimulus parameters in neural regulation.