Comment on “Penetration of Action Potentials During Collision in the Median and Lateral Giant Axons of Invertebrates”

Abstract

The action potential (AP) is an electrical impulse elicited by depolarization of the neuronal membrane from the resting membrane potential (around -70 mV). It propagates along the axon, allowing for rapid and distant communication. Recently, it was claimed that two APs traveling in opposite direction will pass unhindered through each other (penetrate) upon collision [Gonzalez-Perez et al.Phys. Rev. X 4, 031047 (2014)PRXHAE2160-330810.1103/PhysRevX.4.031047]. We tested this claim under carefully controlled conditions and found that we cannot reproduce penetration. Instead, APs consistently annihilated upon collision. This is consistent with a vast body of literature.