<p>The main cell of the brain is the neuron. The neuron has a semipermeable membrane that under specific circumstances lets potassium through. Another common cell is the glia cell, which only has potassium channels. Potassium, K+, has a positive charge and it can pass across the membrane at specific channels, depending on their state (open/closed). The channels are ion specific as the amino acids that make up the channels (proteins) have different charges and configurations.</p>

<p>Different membrane <em>ion channels</em> have different roles. K+ is mainly found in the cytoplasm during resting state with an equilibrium potential of -75mV. In the typical neuron model, this potential is larger than that of Na+ or Cl-.</p>

<p>Ions seek out an equilibrium where they do not have to move because positive and negative charges repel each other. However, the cell is determined to manage this laziness and to avoid a stand-still, it has a negative potential.</p>

<p>When K+ exits the cell, the relationship between positive and negative ions changes, leading to an increasing voltage difference between the inner cytoplasmic and the outer extracellular ions. The negativity in the cell increases and two things happen: a chemical driving force from K+ and an electrical driving force - resulting from the voltage difference. As the K+ exits the cell, neighboring channels increasingly adopt the same pattern and this gives rise to a domino effect along the cell membrane, which travels through the axon. As this switch from -/+ to +/- occurs as K+ passes the membrane the outer charges ++++ switch to ----. This results in a voltage +- that grows along the axis ++--, +++---, ++++----, but this is mediated by Cl-, resulting in a cycling of the potential - and it moves:</p>

<p>------, +-----, ++----, +++---, +++++-, -+++++, --++++, ---+++, ----+, ------</p>

<p>(Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, 5th ed., p.126-129, p.144)</p>

<p>The potassium drives the action potential and that is why neurons can "talk to each other" and signals can reach their destination. This is why potassium is important for the nervous system.</p>

<p>Above, +++--- implies the outer charge and thus the cell membrane has the voltage:</p>

<pre><code>+ + + - - - 
- - - + + +
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-29T15:00:57.697Z
2016-07-29T15:11:43.513Z
2016-07-29T15:11:43.513Z
noumenal
<p>Without Potassium (K), no chemicals move.</p>

<p>The Central Nervous System is comprised of a variety of chemicals, electrical signals and neurotransmitters to send a variety of signals through the brain and a variety of receptors of the nervous system. If you want to send a signal of neurotransmitters (medications/ or other chemicals found in your list), there must be proper voltage to move the chemicals around.</p>

<p>The Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) interact with their respective ion channels to depolarize the cell from -70mV (theoretical resting) to about +55mV (about when movement of neurotransmitters happens). The cells attempt to create an equilibrium, but are in a feedback loop of chemical and electrical interactions.</p>

<p>Luo's Principles of Neurobiology (2015) is a good reference, and there are a variety of other human biology texts that could also illustrate the examples of how these chemicals interact. The <a href="http://www.mindcreators.com/neuronbasics.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.mindcreators.com/neuronbasics.htm</a> also seems to be a good source of visuals.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T21:20:24.520Z
much better to link to wikipedia or scholarpedia than some random person's personal webpage
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T20:48:18.267Z
2016-07-27T20:48:18.267Z
J. L. Ever
<p>When researching the pharmacological mechanisms of action and interactions that various psychotropic drugs, poisons, neurotoxins, etc. have on the brain: </p>

<p>I frequently see off-hand references to the element <strong><em>Potassium(K);</em></strong> in the context of matters concerning neurons, neurotransmitters, neurotransmission, and so on.</p>

<p>Why is <strong><em>Potassium(K)</em></strong> relevant/significant/important to neurology &amp; the brain?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T16:52:41.623Z
it's one of the two main ions involved in the action potential?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T16:53:29.610Z
read about the nersnt equation and excitable membranes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane_potential
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T21:04:49.600Z
This is a good (and perfectly legitimate) question. Why is it receiving negative votes?
voices
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T21:11:38.830Z
because you haven't done even the most rudimentary reading of introductory neuroscience material.
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-27T21:19:53.547Z
we can't give you a full course on the brain in our answers.  try reading the wikipedia articles i linked to or check out a neuroscience textbook such as Kandel's Principles of Neural Science
honi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-30T08:04:43.993Z
@honi No. I may not be an experienced neuroscientist, but that's not true at all. And I hardly asked for an entire course. I was very specific. However, I appreciate your reference material suggestions.
voices
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-31T02:47:52.117Z
you're right; my apologies
honi
<neuroscience><cognitive-neuroscience><neurophysiology><psychopharmacology><electrophysiology>
Why is Potassium(K) important to neurology & the brain?
voices
# Why is Potassium(K) important to neurology & the brain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-27)

When researching the pharmacological mechanisms of action and interactions that various psychotropic drugs, poisons, neurotoxins, etc. have on the brain:

I frequently see off-hand references to the element ***Potassium(K);*** in the context of matters concerning neurons, neurotransmitters, neurotransmission, and so on.

Why is ***Potassium(K)*** relevant/significant/important to neurology & the brain?

**Tags:** neuroscience, cognitive-neuroscience, neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, electrophysiology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: it's one of the two main ions involved in the action potential?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential  
> **username_1**: read about the nersnt equation and excitable membranes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Membrane_potential  
> **username_0**: This is a good (and perfectly legitimate) question. Why is it receiving negative votes?  
> **username_1**: because you haven't done even the most rudimentary reading of introductory neuroscience material.  
> **username_1**: we can't give you a full course on the brain in our answers.  try reading the wikipedia articles i linked to or check out a neuroscience textbook such as Kandel's Principles of Neural Science  
> **username_0**: @username_1 No. I may not be an experienced neuroscientist, but that's not true at all. And I hardly asked for an entire course. I was very specific. However, I appreciate your reference material suggestions.  
> **username_1**: you're right; my apologies  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-07-29. Score: 4

The main cell of the brain is the neuron. The neuron has a semipermeable membrane that under specific circumstances lets potassium through. Another common cell is the glia cell, which only has potassium channels. Potassium, K+, has a positive charge and it can pass across the membrane at specific channels, depending on their state (open/closed). The channels are ion specific as the amino acids that make up the channels (proteins) have different charges and configurations.
Different membrane ion channels have different roles. K+ is mainly found in the cytoplasm during resting state with an equilibrium potential of -75mV. In the typical neuron model, this potential is larger than that of Na+ or Cl-.
Ions seek out an equilibrium where they do not have to move because positive and negative charges repel each other. However, the cell is determined to manage this laziness and to avoid a stand-still, it has a negative potential.
When K+ exits the cell, the relationship between positive and negative ions changes, leading to an increasing voltage difference between the inner cytoplasmic and the outer extracellular ions. The negativity in the cell increases and two things happen: a chemical driving force from K+ and an electrical driving force - resulting from the voltage difference. As the K+ exits the cell, neighboring channels increasingly adopt the same pattern and this gives rise to a domino effect along the cell membrane, which travels through the axon. As this switch from -/+ to +/- occurs as K+ passes the membrane the outer charges ++++ switch to ----. This results in a voltage +- that grows along the axis ++--, +++---, ++++----, but this is mediated by Cl-, resulting in a cycling of the potential - and it moves:
------, +-----, ++----, +++---, +++++-, -+++++, --++++, ---+++, ----+, ------
(Kandel et al., Principles of Neural Science, 5th ed., p.126-129, p.144)
The potassium drives the action potential and that is why neurons can "talk to each other" and signals can reach their destination. This is why potassium is important for the nervous system.
Above, +++--- implies the outer charge and thus the cell membrane has the voltage:
+ + + - - - 
- - - + + +


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-27. Score: 1

Without Potassium (K), no chemicals move.

The Central Nervous System is comprised of a variety of chemicals, electrical signals and neurotransmitters to send a variety of signals through the brain and a variety of receptors of the nervous system. If you want to send a signal of neurotransmitters (medications/ or other chemicals found in your list), there must be proper voltage to move the chemicals around.

The Potassium (K) and Sodium (Na) interact with their respective ion channels to depolarize the cell from -70mV (theoretical resting) to about +55mV (about when movement of neurotransmitters happens). The cells attempt to create an equilibrium, but are in a feedback loop of chemical and electrical interactions.

Luo's Principles of Neurobiology (2015) is a good reference, and there are a variety of other human biology texts that could also illustrate the examples of how these chemicals interact. The <http://www.mindcreators.com/neuronbasics.htm> also seems to be a good source of visuals.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: much better to link to wikipedia or scholarpedia than some random person's personal webpage  

---

