Pacemaker action potential
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
A pacemaker action potential is the kind of action potential that provides a reference rhythm for the network. This contrasts with pacemaker potential or current which drives rhythmic modulation of firing rate.
Some pacemaker action potentials generate rhythms for the heart beat (sino-atrial node) or the circadian rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
EKG Findings
Shown below is an EKG depicting the potential spikes due to a pacemaker.