Name: gg

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses: Activity 3: The Action Potential: Threshold Lab Report
Pre-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.
1. Axons are
You correctly answered: d. long, thin structures that extend from a neuronal cell body.
2. Which of the following is easier?
You correctly answered: a. extracellular recordings of the action potential
3. An action potential is usually initiated in an axon at or near
You correctly answered: d. all of the above
4. The initiation of an action potential in a sensory neuron in the body normally
You correctly answered: a. follows a sufficiently large depolarizing receptor potential.

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Experiment Results
Predict Question:
Predict Question: How will the action potential at R1 (or R2) change as you continue to increase the stimulus voltage?
Your answer : b. The peak value of the action potential will increase.
Stop & Think Questions:
Why is the action potential recorded by the second recording electrode (R2) delayed relative to the action potential recorded
by the first recording electrode (R1)?
You correctly answered: c. The action potential had to propagate from R1 to R2.
An increase in extracellular K+ would depolarize a neuron. This depolarization would occur if neurons were damaged. From
what you have just learned about generating an action potential, what effect would this have on nearby axons? The nearby
axonal membranes will ___________.
You correctly answered: b. be depolarized to values near or above threshold voltages.
Experiment Data:
Stimulus Voltage (mV)
10
20
30
40
50

Peak Value at R1 (V)

0
100
100
100
100

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Peak Value at R2 (V)

0
100
100
100
100

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Action Potential
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

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Post-lab Quiz Results

You scored 66% by answering 2 out of 3 questions correctly.
1. The threshold voltage in an axon is usually
Your answer: b. more negative than the resting membrane potential
Correct answer: a. less negative than the resting membrane potential.
2. If a graded receptor potential made the resting membrane potential of the axon more negative (for example, -70 mV
changes to -75 mV), you would expect
You correctly answered: d. it to be more difficult for this axon to reach the threshold voltage.
3. Failure to reach the threshold voltage in the axon of a sensory neuron could be caused by
You correctly answered: d. all of the above.

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Review Sheet Results

1. Define the term threshold as it applies to an action potential.
Your answer:
The amount of charage needed to start action potential
2. What change in membrane potential (depolarization or hyperpolarization) triggers an action potential?
Your answer:
depolarization
3. How did the action potential at R1 (or R2) change as you increased the stimulus voltage above the threshold voltage?
How well did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
It stayed the same. I was incorrect.
4. An action potential is an "all-or-nothing" event. Explain what is meant by this phrase
Your answer:
Either it happens and there is a spike in charge or there is no increase at all
5. What part of a neuron was investigated in this activity?
Your answer:
the nerve chamber

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