The stability of solitons in biomembranes and nerves

Abstract

We examine the stability of a class of solitons, obtained from a generalization of the Boussinesq equation, which have been proposed to be relevant for pulse propagation in biomembranes and nerves. These solitons are found to be stable with respect to small amplitude fluctuations. They emerge naturally from non-solitonic initial excitations and are robust in the presence of dissipation.