IonChannel - Overdrive77/BioSynapStudio-Public GitHub Wiki

`IonChannel` Class

Abstract base class representing a membrane ion channel with customizable biophysical properties for conductance and reversal potential.

Namespace

BioSynapStudio.Net.Core

Assembly

BioSynapStudio.Net.Core.dll

Summary

The IonChannel class defines core functionality for simulating biologically realistic ion flow across a neuron's membrane. It provides a framework for specific channel types such as sodium, potassium, calcium, or chloride channels through subclassing.

Inheritance

Identity  
  ↳ IonChannel

Constructors

This is an abstract class; it must be subclassed to instantiate. Subclasses should set ReversalPotential and ConductanceMax during construction.

Properties

Name	Type	Description
`ReversalPotential`	`double`	The membrane voltage (in mV) at which this channel’s ion flow is electrically neutral.
`ConductanceMax`	`double`	The maximum conductance (in mS/cm²) of the channel when fully open.

Abstract Methods

`double GetCurrent(PotentialType spikePotential, double membranePotential, double tick)`

Calculates the ionic current based on the current membrane potential and simulation tick.

double iNa = sodiumChannel.GetCurrent(PotentialType.Action, Vm, tick);

Parameters:

spikePotential – Current membrane state (Resting, Graded, Action, or Reset).
membranePotential – The neuron's current membrane voltage.
tick – Current simulation tick (used for time-dependent kinetics).

Returns: The calculated current in µA or equivalent units.

Virtual Methods

`void UpdateGating(double Vm, double dt)`

Optionally overridden in subclasses to update gating variables like activation/inactivation curves over time.

`bool IsOpen(PotentialType potential)`

Returns whether the channel is considered open for the given potential state. By default, returns true.

Remarks

This class forms the foundation of all membrane electrophysiology in BioSynapStudio. It enables precise modeling of depolarizing, repolarizing, and inhibitory effects using real biological values.