The emerging technological revolution in genetically encoded molecular sensors and super-resolution imaging provides neuroscientists with a pass to the real-time nano-world. On this small scale, however, classical principles of electrophysiology do not always apply. This is in large part because the nanoscopic heterogeneities in ionic concentrations and the local electric fields associated with individual ions and their movement can no longer be ignored. Here, we review basic principles of molecular electrodiffusion in the cellular environment of organized brain tissue. We argue that accurate interpretation of physiological observations on the nanoscale requires a better understanding of the underlying electrodiffusion phenomena.

中文翻译：

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神经科学中的电扩散现象：被忽视的同伴

基因编码分子传感器和超分辨率成像方面的新兴技术革命为神经科学家提供了进入实时纳米世界的通道。但是，在这种小规模的研究中，经典的电生理原理并不总是适用。这在很大程度上是因为离子浓度的纳米异质性以及与单个离子相关的局部电场及其移动不再被忽略。在这里，我们回顾了组织的脑组织细胞环境中分子电扩散的基本原理。我们认为，对纳米尺度上的生理观察结果的准确解释需要对潜在的电扩散现象有更好的理解。