Loading...
Building a vibrating probe to detect tiny currents in a liquid
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Journal Title
Term and Year
Spring 2025
Publication Date
2025-05
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Files
Loading...
Askew_Honors.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.17 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Bioelectricity is an essential part of living organisms to aid in their tissue healing and regenerative
abilities, but the apparatus necessary to detect the tiny ionic currents in biological systems are
often convoluted in their function and expensive. This project aimed to build a low-cost, simplified
version of a vibrating probe, a non-invasive device used to detect currents brought about
by a wound in animals with regenerative abilities such as planarians. While the probe was not
successfully constructed in the plating stage, some in-depth theoretical groundwork was developed
in the presence of such limitations. Experimental procedures for electrode plating were carried out
and documented, leading to a deeper understanding of electric field detection, the function of a
lock-in amplifier, and the steps to carry out a full calibration procedure of the probe. To remediate
the absence of an operational probe, a Python simulation was written to model expected current
density near a wound as well as the electric field output. This work plays a role in making tools
capable of measuring bioelectric currents more accessible and lays groundwork for future research
exploring the electrodynamics through electric field theory, signal detection instrumentation, and
current density modeling.
Keywords: Physics, Biophysics, Biology, Bioelectricity, Vibrating Probe, Regeneration,
Wound currents, Planarians, Simulation
Citation
DOI
Description
Accessibility Statement
If this SOAR repository item is not accessible to you (e.g. able to be used in the context of a disability), please email libraryaccessibility@newpaltz.edu