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First report of action potentials in a C. elegans neuron is premature

Nature Neuroscience volume 12, pages 365–366 (2009)Cite this article

To the editor:

Since the publication of an essentially complete wiring diagram of the C. elegans nervous system more than 20 years ago1, there has been intense interest in the question of whether C. elegans neurons fire action potentials. Thus, the recent report by Mellem et al.2 of action potentials in a C. elegans neuron is likely to receive considerable attention. Having carefully reviewed the data, however, we find that the regenerative events described by Mellem et al.2 were incorrectly labeled as action potentials and are more accurately described as graded regenerative potentials.

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Figure 1: Simulated action potentials and graded regenerative potentials.

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA

    Shawn R Lockery & Serge Faumont

  2. Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA

    Miriam B Goodman

Authors
  1. Shawn R Lockery
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  2. Miriam B Goodman
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  3. Serge Faumont
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Lockery, S., Goodman, M. & Faumont, S. First report of action potentials in a C. elegans neuron is premature. Nat Neurosci 12, 365–366 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn0409-365

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