Electrophysiology techniques are important tools that help scientists study neurons. Here are some of the main methods they use:

1. Patch-Clamp Recording:

   • This technique lets researchers look at ionic currents in single cells.
   • It helps analyze how cells behave in different situations, whether they're connected to other cells or not.

2. Intracellular Recording:

   • This method measures the electrical signals inside a neuron using very sharp electrodes.
   • Early research showed that neurons usually have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV).

3. Extracellular Recording:

   • This technique checks the activity of many neurons from outside their cell membranes using special electrodes.
   • It gives information about how fast neurons are firing and their activity patterns, which is typically around 5 to 10 times per second for many neurons.

4. Voltage-Clamp Technique:

   • This method lets scientists control the voltage across a neuron's membrane.
   • It helps them study how ion channels and synaptic currents behave, which is important for understanding how drugs affect neural activity.

Together, these techniques help us learn more about how neurons work and how they communicate with each other.