Modeling Neuronal Circuits and Alzheimer's Disease Using RC Circuits in Physics Education

This activity bridges the principles of physics and biology to deepen student understanding. Students have been exposed to RC circuit laboratory experiment before this activity. Students construct RC circuits to mimic the behavior of neuronal networks, particularly in Caenorhabditis elegans, and use capacitors and resistors to simulate signal transmission and delay. The activity further explores impairments observed in Alzheimer's disease by modifying circuit parameters, introducing greater resistance and capacitance to emulate disrupted neuronal communication. Through hands-on assembly and experimentation, students analyze circuit behavior, calculate time constants, and observe parallels between physical components and biological processes. Group discussions connect the findings to synaptic dynamics, signal propagation, and circuit limitations in modeling complex systems. Extensions allow students to simulate synaptic plasticity and recovery mechanisms, encouraging interdisciplinary applications. Ultimately, this engaging exercise prepares students to connect physics concepts with real-world biological challenges.