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On the thermal noise limit of cellular membranes
Author(s) -
Vincze Gy.,
Szasz N.,
Szasz A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20051
Subject(s) - bioelectromagnetics , noise (video) , limit (mathematics) , statistical physics , physics , independence (probability theory) , electromagnetic field , mathematics , quantum mechanics , statistics , computer science , mathematical analysis , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics)
Comparison of thermal noise limits and the effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields (LFEMF) on the cellular membrane have important implications for the study of bioelectro‐magnetism in this regime. Over a decade ago, Weaver and Astumian developed a model to show that thermal noise can limit the efficacy of LFEMF. A recent report by Kaune [Kaune (2002) Bioelectromagnetics 23:622–628], however, contradicted their findings. Kaune assumes that the conductance noise current of cell membrane can be decomposed into two components, where one of them is identical regarding all segments (coherent), while the other is different (incoherent). Besides, this decomposition is not unequivocal and contradicts to the statistical independence of the segment noise currents, and therefore to the second law of thermodynamics as well. We suggest the procedure based on the method of symmetrical components, by the means of which we can re‐interpret the result of Kaune in a correct way. Bioelectromagnetics 26:28–35, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.