Please explain Diffusion in Neuroscience to me like I'm 5 years old

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The discussion centers on the complexities of diffusion in neuroscience, particularly in relation to neuronal membranes and nerve impulses. The original poster, who has developed an interest in neuroscience after experiencing cognitive decline, is taking a Harvard online course but finds the explanation of diffusion unclear. They understand diffusion from a physics perspective but struggle with its biological implications, especially regarding the role of concentration gradients and ionic charges (Na+ and K+) in depolarization waves. Responses highlight that diffusion in biology is similar to physics but can involve additional complexities like turbulence and crowding, which may not be fully addressed in introductory courses. The conversation also touches on concepts like electrically coupled neurons and reaction-diffusion systems, emphasizing the nuanced understanding required to grasp these processes in neuroscience.
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Explain Diffusion in Neuroscience like I'm 5
I've been developing a deep fascination in neuroscience after experiencing cognitive decline for a while. I've been dabbling in medicinal mushrooms, supplements, meditation, among other treatments and therapies and feel much better but this lead to a deep fascination into how the brain actually works.

I'm taking Harvard's free online course on Neuroscience which I have been breezing through. One thing has stumped me and it's how diffusion works in the context of the membrane of a neuron. I understand what diffusion is in Physics though, it's lost on me in Biology.
 
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The de-polarization wave along a semi permeable neural membrane , ie a nerve impulse. Is driven by concentration gradients and ionic charges, Na+ and K+
 
Zeus2002 said:
TL;DR Summary: Explain Diffusion in Neuroscience like I'm 5
Now, Zeus, I think you should leave neuroscience until you are a little older. Repeat after me:

1 x 1 = 1
1 x 2 = 2
...
 
It depends on what you mean. At the molecular level, it's not any different than physics. It's just diffusion with ions (which also have electrical properties). Diffusion in the real world co-exists with turbulence and eddie currents (super diffusion) and crowding and tight geometry (subdiffusion) so in some cases that may be glossed over and/or treated as the canonical Brownian motion (i.e. normal diffusion) (See anomalous diffusion).

The other use of "diffusion" I'm familiar with is electrically coupled (as opposed to synaptically coupled) neurons because the coupling terms looks like a diffusion term so it's often called diffusive coupling. The term arises from "reaction-diffusion" systems, which is a "nonlinear systems" term and the electrical coupling plays a diffusive role in the reaction diffusion system (the neuron spiking being the reaction role).
 
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