---
title: Scientists say nerves use sound, not electricity
description: Scientists say nerves use sound, not electricity
---

![burger-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/burger-icon.svg) 

[![Kourosh Dini - Homepage](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com)

![close-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/close-icon.svg)

- [Blog page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Courses & Books page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)
- [About page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Waves of Focus page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/waves-of-focus)

![Search](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg)

[![at-icon](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/icons/at-icon.svg)](mailto:kmdini@gmail.com)

[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)

# Scientists say nerves use sound, not electricity

Mar 15, 2007 

![](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/blog%20image.webp)

Now, I'm not sure if I buy into [this article](http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/03/09/science-nervessound-20070309.html) yet, but it sounds entertaining.

> *"The common view that nerves transmit impulses through electricity is wrong and they really transmit sound, according to a team of Danish scientists."*
> 
> [- CBC news](http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/03/09/science-nervessound-20070309.html)

The conventional wisdom is that nerves are not "conducting electricity" per se, rather that there is a pulse of opening and closing of ion channels - sodium and potassium - that creates an exchange between the inner and outer portions of the neuron. The exchange of ions creates a change in the potential of the nerve membrane which is then propagated from one end of the cell to the other.

Bleh. Ok. What I'm saying is that there is a wave of channel openings. Go to [these](http://www.people.eku.edu/ritchisong/301notes2.htm) pages for [further details](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_potential).

\--

Now, when looking up the definition of sound, there are many provided - in fact [dozens](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sound). The ones that are seemingly closest to the issue at hand though are:

> *"Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing."*
> 
> \- American Heritage Dictionary

> *"Mechanical vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, traveling in air at a speed of approximately 1087 ft. (331 m) per second at sea level."*
> 
> \- Dictionary.com

So, the conclusions seem to be that either there are ions exchanging or there is some jiggling going on. (hmm ...)

Regardless, what are we aiming for? Personally, I wonder if the idea that we are looking for the power of mind, the power of sound, or both. Maybe that's just me. Somewhere hidden in the context of sound vs electricity in the neuron could really be another version of the age-old question of where is the mind?

Heck, I'm just going to read Mickey Hart's [Spirit into Sound](http://currents.ucsc.edu/99-00/01-17/lieberman.html).

Edit: Additional Article via LiveScience.com

![Divider](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/separator.svg)

Share this article

<https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/scientists-say-nerves-use-sound-not-electricity> <https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/scientists-say-nerves-use-sound-not-electricity>

## Recent Articles

[![Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/S01E77%20-%20Is%20the%20Medication%20Working-blog.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working)

#### [Is the Medication Working?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/is-the-adhd-medication-working)

 Oct 16, 2026

Hmm, I wonder if this medication's working. Maybe it is. I've been at this game for about four hours, and the ...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[![No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Ep%2076%20No%20Pain%20No%20Gain%20and%20the%20Wandering%20Mind.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd)

#### [No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/no-pain-no-gain-and-the-wandering-mind-adhd)

 Oct 09, 2026

It's 9:00 at night. The report is maybe two-thirds done. My back is killing me. Well, maybe I'll just keep pus...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[![Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Blog%20Building%20Trust%20With%20a%20Wandering%20Mind%20-%20ep75.jpg)](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd)

#### [Building Trust With a Wandering Mind](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/abuilding-trust-with-a-wandering-mind-agency-adhd)

 Oct 02, 2026

Maybe others can do it, that trick, that hack, that system. I'm just not sure that I trust I could. We said th...

![Bottom card separator](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/faq/line-mobile.svg)

[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)

## Publications

 Over the years, I’ve written five main works on productivity. Sign up for the Weekly Wind Down newsletter to get free previews.

![Kourosh Dini courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20left.webp) ![Kourosh Dini books](https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/courses%20and%20books/books%20right.webp) 

[See all the publications](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)

- [Kourosh Dini Instagram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/kouroshdinimd/)
- [Kourosh Dini LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini X/Twitter (opens in new window)](https://x.com/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini YouTube (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/c/KouroshDini)

### Contact Us

 If you have a clinical matter, please call.  
 For books and productivity matters, please email.

- [1020 South Wabash Ave, Unit 4G, Chicago, IL 60605 (Opens Address in google Maps)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7agnPcDjwB6PRNuX6)
- [312-391-3171 (opens phone dialer)](tel:+13123913171)
- [dinigroup@kouroshdini.com (Opens mail application)](mailto:dinigroup@kouroshdini.com)

- [Home](https://www.kouroshdini.com/)
- [Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Books & Courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)

- [About](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.kouroshdini.com/privacy-policy)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.kouroshdini.com/terms-and-conditions)

© 2026 The Dini Group, Ltd.

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Kourosh",
    "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/author/kourosh"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-03-31T18:02:40.410Z",
  "datePublished" : "2007-03-15T02:02:10.000Z",
  "headline" : "Scientists say nerves use sound, not electricity",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/scientists-say-nerves-use-sound-not-electricity",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg"
    }
  }
}
```