Sally Adee in “We Are Electric: Inside the 200-Year Hunt for Our Body’s Bioelectric Code, and What the Future Holds” takes us into our inner most layer which is but a hidden circuitry that powers nearly all forms of life. Even the tiniest cellular functions are governed by intricate electrical signals. This bioelectricity influences everything from our health to our consciousness.
This book made its debut in 2023, and I’ve been jotting down my thoughts on it for the past couple of months. Today, I finally decided it was time to dive in and finish the rest!
If you’re a science lover or simply someone who’s curious like I am, you’ll definitely want to check out this book! It’s a fascinating read that’s easy to understand, and by the time you finish, you’ll be amazed by the incredible ways our bodies work.
Sally Adee is an amazing science writer. I enjoy the way she writes about the intersection of technology, biology, and human experience. And this book is no exception. If you’re in the mood for some fascinating scientific research blended with engaging storytelling, then you definitely need to check out “We Are Electric”! Let’s dive into the book!
The Intricacies of Bioelectricity
The book starts by saying that we are essentially bioelectric beings and this bioelectricity is critical to all our biological processes. The electrical potentials and currents that operate within living organisms, are responsible for nearly all physiological functions. Our cellular behavior, neural communication, and even the healing processes everything is regulated by the same bioelectricity.
Adee then gave reference to Luigi Galvani, the late 18th century, philosopher’s work. He was the first person, according to the author, who observed how a leg of frog twitches when a spark is introduced. This gave him the idea that there must be a connection between electricity and life. This idea laid the foundational stone for “animal electricity”. Subsequently, Hermann von Helmholtz took it to next level. The German physicist and physician, measured the speed of electrical signals in nerves (1849). And somewhere after 50 years, Wilhelm Einthoven contributed to practical applications with the invention of the electrocardiogram (1901), a device that measures the electric currents in the heart, at that time, it was done with galvanometer.
Bioelectricity within our body happens in watery environment of our tissues. For example, ion channels in our cell membranes act a lot like semiconductor gates, helping to control the flow of important ions such as sodium, potassium, and calcium. Similarly, we have voltage differences, or membrane potentials, which is the result of ionic gradients. Our neurons or other cells communicate with each other through these action potentials. Therefore, electrical signalling is not only important but it’s also fundamental to all our internal processes at cellular level.
The author suggests that harnessing these electrical properties can revolutionize medicine and technology.
Cellular Currents
Ions, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride, are the main players since their movements across cell membrane create those electrochemical signals. The cell membrane itself acts as an electric barrier. It is through this barrier it maintains a voltage difference between the inside and outside of the cell. This voltage difference is known as the membrane potential.
Long distance signalling within the body is generally done by neurons. Similarly, muscle cells and cardiac cells also rely on electric signalling.
When there is an injury, cells generate bioelectric signals that guide the migration of healing cells to the injury site. Thus, electric signalling also helps in healing and taking care of wounded areas.
Bioelectricity and Human Health
Bioelectricity helps in not only maintaining physical health but it also assists in managing other bodily diseases. Any form of disruption in these signals can lead to some form of health issues. And it could range from minor problems to severe neurological disorders.
Bioelectronic medicine, the author suggests, is one area which is exploring the inherent bioelectric properties of human tissues. By clubbing biology with electronic engineering, researchers aim to modulate nerve activity and restore normal function. I am particularly fascinated with the concept of stimulating vagus nerve for treating chronic inflammation, epilepsy, and even depression. The idea is to target a specific point/section of nerves system to recalibrate the body’s internal communication networks, leading to significant therapeutic outcomes.
Electroceuticals is another such intriguing concept. It is a therapy where electrical impulses are introduced directly to influence cellular behavior. Autoimmune diseases or complex gastrointestinal disorders are areas which are under observation with electroceuticals.
Chronic pain in spine can now be managed by spinal cord stimulators. These forms of bioelectric therapies have improved mobility and reduced dependency on opioid medications. Similarly, certain disorders like Parkinson’s disease, have shown remarkable improvements from deep brain stimulation, as the treatment has offered patients enhanced motor control and a better quality of life.
Electrical stimulation can really give our body’s natural repair processes a boost. These stimulations have promoted healing more quickly and effectively. Patients dealing with diabetic ulcers and other stubborn chronic wounds have found it particularly beneficial.
Harnessing the Power of Bioelectricity
The author then talks about the transformative potential of bioelectricity in modern medicine. The first thing I thought of was a pacemaker, and it turns out the book mentions it as a key example of how bioelectricity is being used! The device delivers electrical impulses to the heart muscles to maintain a regular heartbeat. This tech is a proof of how understanding and using bioelectric signals can directly impact human health. Likewise, neural interfaces, such as cochlear implants, have transformed the lives of people who were otherwise dealing with hearing impairments.
Adee suggests that the future of bioelectric technologies is really exciting! By fine-tuning our body’s own electrical signals, these therapies and treatments could help restore normal functions without any pesky side effects. Plus, they might just revolutionize regenerative medicine, paving the way for amazing advancements in tissue engineering, organ regeneration, and injury recovery.
Bioelectricity Beyond Medicine
As the tech advances, there could also arise ethical considerations, for instance, concerns involving pervasive monitoring of bioelectric signals, be it wearable devices or implants. This omnipresent surveillance also poses significant privacy risks. There is a possibility of unauthorized data harvesting or discriminatory practices based on bioelectric profiles. Therefore, the need to the hour is to have certain limitations and regulations set begore it gets too late.
With the emergence of AI and ML, and their convergence with bioelectricity could lead to novel ethical dilemmas. AI has the power to interpret bioelectric signals so it has a huge potential for improving healthcare and personalized services. However, there is also a chance of misuse of the technology; therefore, there is a real need for careful regulation and ethical guidelines.
Future Horizons
Author then talks about the emerging trends and future directions in bioelectric research. Some of those are genomics and proteomics, where the electric signals are mapped with cells and correlating them with genetic and protein expressions. This could give rise to novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.
Synthetic biology is another promising intersection, where researchers could fabricate totally new reigns and biological functions of systems. Eventually this would lead to breakthroughs in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Adee also talks about a possibility of neural interfaces that amplify cognitive abilities and devices that could facilitate human-machine interaction.
The author proposes that bioelectric research is not only limited to humans but the scope can be extended to animals as well. With bioelectric sensors, researchers can track animal health, animal migrations, or even detect pollutants in real-time.
Takeaway
In a nut shell, Adee suggests that bioelectricity is not only fundamental to life but it could also act as a lens though which we can see the effects of health both in humans and animals. And this shift could bring groundbreaking advances in both science and our understanding of ourselves.
At the same time, we need to be super careful with the deployment of such technologies, as the effect of putting them in the wrong hands would be irreversible.
The book wraps up by inviting us to appreciate the amazing interconnection of electrical processes within life. As we stand on the edge of exciting technological advancements, “We Are Electric” stands tall and reminds us how deeply interconnected we are at the core of our vibrant existence.
