Simulated single-channel data and closed dwell-time distributions for the two state model described by Scheme 1. (A) Simulated single-channel current record with both opening and closing rates constants set to 1,000/s. Channel openings are shown as upward steps. (B) Sigworth and Sine (1987) plot of the closed dwell-time distribution for 106 simulated intervals. The distribution is described by a single exponential (continuous black line). The time constant (arrow at 1 ms) falls at the peak of the distribution due to the transform of the data. (C) Same data as in B on linear coordinates. The linear plot reveals the exponential nature of the data: the briefer the interval duration, the greater the number of observed intervals. The arrow indicates the time constant of 1 ms, which indicates the mean duration of the intervals in the distribution, given by the time at which the initial magnitude of the distribution decays to 1/e.
