Sensing gravity with acid: Scientists discover role for protons in neurotransmission
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 - 17:30
in Physics & Chemistry
While probing how organisms sense gravity and acceleration, scientists uncovered evidence that acid (proton concentration) plays a key role in communication between neurons. Scientists discovered that sensory cells in the inner ear continuously transmit information on orientation of the head relative to gravity and low-frequency motion to the brain using protons as the key means of synaptic signal transmission.