MemPot v. 1.2

Description: One in a series of three graphical interactive teaching programs that simulate experiments using microelectrodes and electrodes to teaching some fundamental concepts of electrophysiology. MemPot, first released in 1990, has been designed to simulate a microelectrode experiment to show students how both the cell membrane potentials depend on the external potassium and sodium concentrations and on their relative permeabilities. The program simulates measurements on excitable cells (e.g. nerve) in which K+ and Na+ are the only major permeant ions. Students can then choose a range of different salt solution values and interactively move an intracellular electrode on the computer screen to impale cells in each chosen solution in order to measure either (or both) resting potentials or action potentials. Cell-to-cell variation and electrical noise on the simulated oscilloscope traces of the potentials have been built into the program. Graphical fitting routines are also included to enable students to determine relative permeabilities.

More information is available on the website of the University of New South Wales and on Professor Barry's webpage.

Comments & References: The other two computer programs in this series are MemCable and ArtMem. The programs have been primarily written for Windows, but they also run on Macintosh computers using emulation software. For further details, prices, distributors and orders, please contact Professor Barry.