Bioelectricity in the Human Body & Its Relevance to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Kartikay Dhar
6 days ago
3 min read

#Tejasvani Knowledge Desk

Electricity is all around us—and within us. Just as electrical energy can heat, light, and move machines, the human body also generates and uses electricity every second. This bioelectric system enables our heart to beat, our muscles to move, and our brain to communicate with every cell in the body.

Understanding how this electricity flows, and how it sometimes becomes imbalanced, helps us better understand conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

1. The Foundation: Atoms → Molecules → Cells → Bioelectricity

Everything in the body begins with atoms, the basic units of matter.

Protons: positively charged
Neutrons: neutral
Electrons: negatively charged

Electricity is simply the flow of electrons from one atom to another.

Atoms combine to form molecules, and molecules organize themselves to form cells. The human body contains trillions of cells, and nearly all of them have the capacity to generate electrical potential.

2. How the Body Generates Electricity

Every cell maintains a natural electrical difference across its membrane called the Resting Membrane Potential (RMP).

Inside the cell: more potassium (K⁺) → more negative
Outside the cell: more sodium (Na⁺) → more positive

This creates a charge difference of roughly –70 mV inside the cell and +70 mV outside—similar to a tiny biological battery.

Action Potentials: The Body’s Electrical Signals

Neurons use special channels to let sodium and potassium flow in and out. This creates two phases:

Depolarization: Sodium rushes in → inside becomes positive
Repolarization: Potassium exits → inside becomes negative again

This rapid change sends an electrical wave down the neuron. Example: touching something hot sends an electrical signal from the hand → spinal cord → brain within milliseconds.

The body operates almost entirely on DC (direct current), not AC. DC is steady and does not naturally turn off, so it must be precisely regulated.

3. Why This Matters in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A key neurological observation in ASD is E/I imbalance—a disruption between:

Excitation (neurons firing)
Inhibition (neurons calming down)

A. Neuronal Hyperexcitability

Studies show:

Neurons in ASD often have higher sodium currents, larger action potentials, and greater excitability.
Animal models show increased burst firing in certain interneurons.
Postmortem human studies reveal changes in GABA receptors and GABA-producing enzymes.

B. GABAergic Dysfunction

GABA is the main inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitter.In ASD, reduced GABA activity may lead to:

Sensory hypersensitivity
Emotional dysregulation
Attention difficulties
Increased neural “noise”

This helps explain why 30% of autistic individuals also experience epilepsy another condition of excessive neuronal firing.

4. Two Promising Supportive Pathways

1. Supporting GABA Function

Certain essential oils (lavender, chamomile, bergamot, vetiver, sandalwood) have shown potential to:

Enhance GABAergic activity
Reduce neural hyperexcitability
Support calmness and sensory regulation

These are adjunctive (supportive), not medical treatments.

2. Earthing (Grounding) and Electrical Stability

Earthing is the practice of physically connecting the body with the earth’s surface electrons.

Research shows:A 2023 Biomedicines study demonstrated that earthing:

Reduced stress-induced anxiety
Regulated the corticotropin-releasing system
Showed potential for influencing neurotransmitter balance (future studies planned on serotonin, dopamine, GABA)

Earthing helps stabilize the body’s natural electrical gradients, acting like a "voltage stabilizer" for biological circuits.

Given its low cost and high safety, grounding can be incorporated easily.

5. Conclusion

Bioelectricity is one of the most fundamental forces that allows the body to function. In Autism Spectrum Disorder, disturbances in this electrical system—especially the balance between excitation and inhibition—play a major role in sensory processing, emotional regulation, and overall neural communication.

By combining:

GABA-supportive essential oils, and
Grounding techniques

we can support calmness, reduce neural noise, and improve overall wellbeing.

These approaches are supportive, not curative, but they offer meaningful benefits when used consistently and safely.