How do Nerve Signals work? A Mechanical Model
Nerve signals are really just marbles rolling around, triggering more marbles.
The simulation was made with Blender.
Definitely contact me if you want to build this marble machine in real life!
I plan to make a longer video in the future explaining this mechanical marble model in more detail. I believe it could be a great tool to get an intuitive understanding of this complex biological process. It could be used to showcase many other concepts as well, like refractory period (why it takes a while until the next signal can be triggered), why the signal can only spread in one direction, why the ion pumps have to work constantly and that they alone need energy (everything else just works due to gravity), why the channels only open for a limited amount of time and why they can't be triggered right away again (the marbles have to be removed from the trigger first, so it can go back to starting position), and why there have to be way more marbles outside of the cell than inside for this process to work.
One day, I want to build this marble machine in real life. Maybe even expand it, build on it, add synapses and other elements and processes. I believe that many complex biological concepts could benefit from breaking them down to a mechanical model that can be intuitively understood by anyone.
Conception, direction, and narration: sci_bastian (me)
3D modelling and physics simulation in Blender: Arktys (my husband)
#biomechmodels #marblemachine #veritasiumcontest
Image Credits (the four "textbook" examples, in order of appearance):
"File:Action potential.svg" Original by en:User:Chris 73, updated by en:User:Diberri, converted to SVG by tiZom is licensed with CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"File:Basis of Membrane Potential2.png" by Synaptidude is licensed with CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"File:Cable theory Neuron RC circuit v3.svg" by Smedlib is licensed with CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
"File:Membrane Permeability of a Neuron During an Action Potential.svg" by CThompson02 is licensed with CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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