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Neuropsychology
Assignment Forum: Action Potential Events

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Neuropsychology
Assignment Forum: Action Potential Events

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The action potential is a fundamental process for neuronal communication. It involves several coordinated events at the cellular level that allow the transmission of electrical signals along a neuron. Let’s walk through the events leading up to, during, and after an action potential, focusing on neuron structure, ionic events, and neurotransmitter release

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Neuropsychology
Assignment Forum: Action Potential Events

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The neuron is a specialized cell designed to transmit electrical signals. Its structure

Neuron Structure:

The neuron is a specialized cell designed to transmit electrical signals. Its structure includes several key components:

Dendrites: Branch-like structures that receive signals from other neurons.

Cell Body (Soma): Contains the nucleus and other cellular organelles, where metabolic processes occur.

Axon: The long, cable-like projection that transmits action potentials from the cell body to the synapse.

Axon Terminals: The end of the axon, where neurotransmitters are released to communicate with other neurons.

Myelin Sheath: A fatty layer covering the axon, enhancing signal transmission speed.

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Pre-Action Potential Events (Resting State):

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Pre-Action Potential Events (Resting State):

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Before an action potential occurs, the neuron is at its resting membrane potential, typically around -70 mV. This is maintained by the selective permeability of the neuron's membrane and the action of the Na+/K+ pump.

The Na+/K+ pump actively transports 3 sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and 2 potassium ions (K+) into the cell, creating a high concentration of Na+ outside the cell and K+ inside the cell.

The resting potential is created because the neuron is more permeable to K+ ions than Na+, so more K+ ions leak out than Na+ ions leak in. This results in a negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside.

Action Potential Initiation (Depolarization):

When a neuron is stimulated by a sufficiently strong signal (threshold), it triggers the action potential.

Threshold: The depolarization must reach a critical level, typically around -55 mV, to open voltage-gated Na+ channels.

As these channels open, Na+ ions rush into the neuron due to both concentration gradient and electrical gradient. This rapid influx of positive ions causes the inside of the neuron to become more positive, leading to depolarization.

The membrane potential quickly rises to approximately +30 mV, creating a positive spike in the action potential.

Repolarization:

Once the peak of the action potential is reached, the following steps occur:

The Na+ channels close, and K+ channels open.

K+ ions begin to exit the cell, causing the inside of the neuron to become more negative (this is known as repolarization).

The efflux of K+ ions restores the membrane potential toward its resting state.

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Pre-Action Potential Events (Resting State):

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After an action potential, the neuron enters a refractory period during which it is less responsive to stimuli:

Absolute Refractory Period: No new action potential can be initiated, regardless of the stimulus strength. This occurs during the depolarization and early repolarization phases when Na+ channels are inactivated.

Relative Refractory Period: A stronger-than-usual stimulus is required to initiate another action potential. This occurs during the hyperpolarization phase when K+ channels are still open.

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Refractory Periods | Action potentials in neurons

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The repolarization process sometimes overshoots the resting potential, making the inside of the neuron even more negative than usual (approximately -80 mV). This is known as hyperpolarization.

During this phase, the K+ channels remain open for a brief period, allowing additional K+ ions to flow out of the neuron.

The Na+/K+ pump and other ion channels work to restore the resting potential, bringing the neuron back to -70 mV.