Here's Why

Short-circuited by Ciguatera

"The body electric" by Diane Martindale was published in New Scientist on 15th May 2004. She explained the latest research into the human body's use of electric fields. In a really interesting feature, what rang a personal bell, was her explation of how body cells sense and respond to electric fields. Kenneth Robinson of Purdue University thinks it is calcium channels embedded in the cell membrane. These are the same calcium channels that are jammed open by the Ciguatera poison in my system. Since the calcium channels are normally opened by changes in volatge across the cell, the flow of calcium through the channels might convert electric fields into a signalling cascade. The electric field may normally cause the channels to open and allow a rush of calcium into the cell. The idea is that the calcium activates a second messenger molecule, and so on down the signalling chain, and so a strong signal is registered by the nervous system. If calcium channel blocker drugs are administered, then the cells no longer respond to electric fields. The question that isn't addressed in the feature is the opposite case which is caused by Ciguatera poisoning: the channels are jammed open and the calcium is allowed to frow freely and activate the signalling cascade. To me this sounds like the Ciguatera is causing false signals to be registered. Lots of random noise, as if there were strong electrical fields being amplified. Sensory overload. Just as experienced. The other possibility is that when the Ciguatera poison is in lesser concentrations, instead of always jamming the calcium channels open and starting a signalling cascade, it makes the calcium channels more likely to open in the presence of electric fields. Overamplification of the initial signal. This may be a mechanism for the hyperacuity symptoms. Signals normally filtered out because they are too small, instead get amplified and registered. Sudden changes in the presence of the Ciguatera toxin would cause a voltage surge, causing a short-circuit.

About the author: Ian Woolf lives in Sydney, has a degree in Applied Science, worked as a solar astronomer, software engineer, systems programmer, webmaster, research assistant, Cisco CCNA tutor, Physics laboratory demonstrator, Computational Theory lecturer, and subject coordinator; while changing his career to freelance writing and broadcasting. Listen to Ian on the Diffusion radio science show on radio 2SER 107.3FM Monday at 6:30pm in Sydney or streaming audio on www.2ser.com, or listen to the Diffusion podcasts. You should follow me on twitter, here

Posted by iwoolf at August 1, 2004 2:18 PM | TrackBack