The molecular events that take place during the production and propagation of an action potential are important concepts for students in human physiology to understand. The operation of voltage gated channels with the subsequent flow of ions into and out of the axon is a dynamic process that can best be visualized through animation. This module allows students to see the results of opening and closing of sodium and potassium voltage gated channels during the production of an action potential. The animation allows the students to choose the perspective from inside or outside of the axon.

The VRML 3D environment begins with a view of the axon and then progressively moves inside the axon until the user can experience the flow of ions. There is audio accompaniment which gives explanations for the parts of the process. The VRML2 world can be viewed with the assistance of a plug-in. Principal programmer and designer: Ademola Adekanbi.

opening page

neuron

view of the cell

sodium ions, gates, cell wall

The virtual environment is a 3D immersive world where the user can have a top-down or an inside view and can use stereo eyeglasses. Potassium and sodium ions are moving on both sides of the cell wall and there are sodium and potassium gated channels which open and close, causing the ions to flow back and forth. This module can be experienced in both a PC and a UNIX environment. The program was created in C, with VR libraries from Sense8. The PC uses Crystal Eyes stereo eyeglasses.

Principal programmer: Ioulia Popenko. Principal Designer: Janet Esquirol

title page

cell wall with gates and ions

top view of the cell and ions

Principal Participants:

  Stephen Loomis: Professor of Zoology

  Janet Esquirol: Art

  Ioulia Popenko, Ademola Adekanbi: Computer Science

Courses where Module will be used:

  Human Physiology (ZOO202), General Zoology (ZOO112)