An N-node myelinated axon model: A system identification approach

A method for modeling and simulating neural action potential (AP) propagation along the length of an axon containing a number of Ranvier nodes is proposed in this paper. A system identification approach is employed to identify a transfer function of the classical Hodgkin-Huxley equations for membrane voltage potential (1952). The identified transfer function model is applied to a site-of-stimulus introduction, of which cascading segments of internodal regions and nodal regions represent the remaining downstream axon. This cascading network is used to simulate "cable" properties and signal propagation along the length of the axon. This work proposes possible solutions to attenuation losses inherited in the classical myelinated cable models and accounts for neuronal AP velocity of propagation.