In these videos, you will see dead animals moving. Perhaps this is due to certain biological processes that continue to occur in their muscles and nerves, even after the brain and other vital organs have stopped functioning.
1.- Rigor Mortis?
One of the processes that could explain this phenomenon is called rigor mortis. After death, the bodies of animals begin to experience a series of biochemical changes, including the release of calcium in the muscles. This causes a muscular contraction that can result in movements in the frog, even after it has died.
However, this theory can be ruled out because the muscular contraction that occurs is sustained and rigid, and occurs 2 to 4 hours after death, and can last up to 48 hours.
Then it leads us to think about…
Action Potential:
First, we must understand what an action potential is. It is a change in electrical charge that occurs in nerve and muscle cells. When a cell is at rest, it has a negative electrical charge inside and a positive charge outside. When a stimulus arrives at the cell, for example a nerve impulse, there is an influx of positive ions into the interior of the cell, which changes the electrical charge of the cell and creates an action potential.
During the action potential, there is a rapid and coordinated depolarization of the cell membrane, meaning that the electrical charge inside the cell becomes more positive relative to the charge outside. This depolarization occurs when sodium ions (Na+) rapidly enter the cell through ion channels that open in response to an appropriate stimulus.
After sodium ions enter the cell and produce depolarization, there is a rapid efflux of potassium ions (K+) out of the cell through ion channels that open in response to depolarization. This efflux of potassium ions produces repolarization of the cell, meaning that the electrical charge inside the cell becomes negative again relative to the charge outside.
In summary, the action potential is activated by the entry of sodium ions (Na+) into the cell, followed by a rapid efflux of potassium ions (K+).
So, why would the action potential work if the animal is dead?
When an animal’s brain is declared dead, it means that there is no longer any detectable electrical activity in the brain. However, some studies have shown that in some cases, certain cells in the body, including muscle cells and neurons, can remain viable and continue functioning for a short period of time after brain death.
Therefore, since these animals have died very recently, their muscles have not yet stopped functioning. So, when salt (NaCl) sodium chloride is added:
The action potential is activated by the entry of sodium ions (Na+) into the cell.
What causes the activation of the action potential in the muscle?
The activation of the action potential in the muscle triggers a series of processes that culminate in muscle contraction, which is essential for any movement of the body.
However, it is important to note that these movements are not evidence of life in the frog and that the animal is dead.
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