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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2009 Dec;8(12):982–1001. doi: 10.1038/nrd2983

Figure 1. Theoretical effects of KV channel inhibitors and activators on pathologically altered neuronal activity.

Figure 1

Transmission of information within the nervous system is encoded in the frequency of electrical action potential firing in nerve fibers. Pathological changes in action potential firing frequency within the nervous system can lead to a variety of neurological and psychological disorders. Since KV channels play important roles in defining the action potential waveform, modulators of these channels are expected to have therapeutic utility in these disorders. For example, under conditions where action potential firing is decreased (i.e. depression, cognitive dysfunction) KV channel blockers should be able to restore normal firing. KV channel activators in contrast should be useful to reduce pathological hyperexcitability (i.e. epilepsy, pain) by reducing action potential firing.