Neurons: biological and physical models of electrical signal transmission

Neuroscience is a group of disciplines, very different from each other, that study the nervous system, i.e. the brain, the spinal cord and the networks of neurons present throughout the body. Over the years, they have acquired the methodologies and research techniques of mathematics, physics, computer science and engineering. Thanks to the fundamental contribution of these disciplines, as well as biology, chemistry and physiology, it is possible to develop models of functioning capable of explaining the behaviour of biological systems such as the brain.

Nobel laureate Eric Kandel writes: "The task of neuroscience is to explain the behaviour in terms of brain activity. How can the brain direct its millions of individual nerve cells to produce behaviour, and how can these cells be influenced by the environment? The last frontier of the science of mind, its ultimate challenge, is to understand the biological basis of consciousness, and the mental processes through which we perceive, act, learn, and remember."

The human brain is a wonderful but very complex system. The functional units of the nervous system, neurons, communicate with each other through electrical signals that propagate even over long distances and release chemicals, called neurotransmitters.

The aim of the study is to stimulate interest in a topic that lends itself well to a multidisciplinary approach in the field of STEM through the discovery of the basics of neuroscience and to increase curiosity towards a topic whose research is frontier research and has important implications for well-being and health.

Exploring the transmission of electrical signals in neurons can be greatly enhanced through the use of augmented reality (AR) tools and resources. Several innovative tools and experiences can facilitate a deeper understanding of neuronal function: