科学家早就发现,许多生物的生命过程,往往伴随着产生电场和电流。这种生物体内的电现象,就叫做“生物电”。例如,电鳗和电鳐等鱼类体内产生的电,甚至强烈到可以把相当不小的动物击昏。但是一般的生物电却十分微弱,非得用灵敏的仪器来测定不可。例如,神经冲动就是一种微弱的电扰动;它沿着神经纤维传递,把感觉的信息带到神经中枢。还不仅是动物,就是植物也能产生电场和电流,不过由于测定的困难,以往人们不大知 Scientists have long discovered that the life processes of many organisms are often accompanied by the generation of electric fields and electric currents. The electrical phenomenon in this organism is called “biological electricity.” For example, electricity generated in fish, such as emu and eel, is even so strong that it can knock down quite a few animals. However, general bioelectricity is very weak, and it must be measured with sensitive instruments. For example, a nerve impulse is a weak electrical disturbance; it travels along the nerve fibers, bringing the sensory information to the nerve center. It is not only animals but also plants that can generate electric fields and electric currents. However, due to the difficulties of measurement, people did not know much about the past.