Effect of abrupt diameter change on spike conduction

Axon with sudden diameter increase at x = 0

Abrupt changes in axon diameter can cause interesting direction-dependent conduction phenomena. In this example, which was provided by John W. Moore, a diameter increase at x = 0 causes "reflection" of a spike that initially arrives from the left. A similar mechanism may be responsible for the F waves that can be elicited in nerve conduction testing.

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