Scientists uncover how mechanical forces ripple across neuron membranes

Scientists uncover how mechanical forces ripple across neuron membranes (Image: Canva)

Scientists have unveiled how tiny tugs on a neuron’s membrane can send a ripple of tension, racing across the surface like a silent wave. In a world where neurons whisper through electrical pulses, a new message is emerging.

This message is a mechanical one. The pattern of obstacles inside the membrane determines how far and how fast these mechanical signals travel.

Who is behind this discovery?

Researchers at the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain and the University of California San Diego have joined forces. They will study to know what happens when neurons feel a physical pull.

They found that mechanical tension spreads along the plasma membrane of neurons. And crucially, they showed that the arrangement of embedded obstacles inside the membrane.

Where did the experiments focus?

The team looked at mechanoreceptor neurons in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, specifically touch-receptor and proprioceptor cells. The findings were announced in October 2025, through a news release and peer-reviewed publication in the journal Nature Physics.

Why is this important?

This study is necessary as it uncovers how physical forces travel in neurons. Researchers will also look into electrical forces that travel in neurons. This insight connects force, form and function together. This could reshape the understanding of sensory biology.

How did they measure this?

The scientists attached microspheres to isolated neurites and used optical tweezers to pull them. They measured how tension travelled and backed up their data with 3-D mathematical modelling. They discovered that a regular obstacle lattice in the membrane limits spread. This is a disordered, random arrangement which let tension go farther.

Looking Ahead

This study marks a substantial leap in understanding how neurons sense physical forces. The researchers would link membrane structure to mechanical signal. This opens new avenues for exploring how the brain and nervous system make sense of touch and movement.