Fig. 4.

Visualization of the possible experiments to test the proposed hypothesis. a Laser stimulation to locally disrupt the Δψ_m in one cell. It is then tested if the mitochondrial network in the cell connected by the MNT also shows a breakdown of Δψ_m. b Monitoring the spontaneous fluctuations of Δψ_m in both cells connected by a MNT filled with connected mitochondria. A synchronization of the fluctuations should be observed (case 1). When disrupting the mitochondrial connectivity (at point 3) of the mitochondrial network inside the MNT the synchronization should disappear (case 2). c Shining light into a filamentous mitochondrion and measuring the light intensity at the other end of it will proof if mitochondria can act as optical fibers