Resting Potential RP = -70mv
Action Potential AP = +30 mv
Resting Potential
At rest, all cells have a negative internal charge and
unequal distribution of ions:Results from:
Large cations being trapped inside cell
Na+/K+ pump and limited permeability keep Na+ high outside cell
K+ is very permeable and is high inside cell
Attracted by negative charges inside
Explained by Nernst Equation p. 149
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Membrane Potential (MP) Changes
• Measured by placing 1
electrode inside cell and
1 outside
• Depolarization occurs
when MP becomes more
positive
• Hyperpolarization: MP
becomes more negative
than RMP
• Repolarization: MP
returns to RMP
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The Action Potential (AP)
• Is a wave of MP change that sweeps along the
axon from soma to synapse
• Wave is formed by rapid depolarization of the
membrane by Na+ influx; followed by rapid
repolarization by K+ efflux
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Mechanism of Action Potential
• Depolarization:
– At threshold, VG Na+ channels open
– Na+ driven inward by its electrochemical gradient
– This adds to depolarization, opens more channels
• Termed a positive feedback loop
– Causes a rapid change in MP from –70 to +30 mV
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Mechanism of Action Potential continued
• Repolarization:
– VG Na+ channels close; VG K+ channels open
– Electrochemical gradient drives K+ outward
– Repolarizes axon back to RMP
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Mechanism
of Action
Potential
continued
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APs Are All-or-None
• When MP reaches
threshold an AP is
irreversibly fired
– Because positive
feedback opens
more and more
Na+ channels
– Shortly after
opening, Na+
channels close
• and become
inactivated until
repolarization
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How Stimulus Intensity is Coded
• Increased stimulus intensity causes more APs to be fired
– Size of APs remains constant
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Refractory Periods
• Absolute refractory
period:
– Membrane cannot
produce another AP
because Na+
channels are
inactivated
• Relative refractory
period occurs when
VG K+ channels are
open, making it
harder to depolarize
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Synapse
• Is a functional connection between a neuron
(presynaptic) and another cell (postsynaptic)
• There are chemical and electrical synapses
– Synaptic transmission at chemical synapses is via
neurotransmitters (NT)
– Electrical synapses are rare in NS
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Chemical Synapse
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Synaptic Transmission continued
• NT (ligand) diffuses across cleft
– Binds to receptor proteins on postsynaptic
membrane
• Opening chemically-regulated ion channels
– Depolarizing channels cause EPSPs (excitatory
postsynaptic potentials)
– Hyperpolarizing channels cause IPSPs (inhibitory
postsynaptic potentials)
– These affect VG channels in postsynaptic cell
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Synaptic Transmission continued
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Acetylcholine (ACh)
• Most widely used NT
– Used in brain and ANS; used at all neuromuscular
junctions
• Has nicotinic and muscarinic receptor subtypes
– These can be excitatory or inhibitory
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Acetylcholine in the PNS
• Cholinergic neurons use acetylcholine as NT
• The large synapses on skeletal muscle are
termed end plates or neuromuscular junctions
(NMJ) = Myoneuronal Junction
– Produce large EPSPs called end-plate potentials for
muscles; causing muscle contraction
– Curare blocks ACh action at neuromuscular
junctions by occupying ACh receptors; causing
relaxed muscles (used to assist surgery )
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Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
• Inactivates ACh, terminating its action; located in cleft
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Nicotinic ACh Channel
– Permits diffusion of Na+ into
and K+ out of postsynaptic cell
– Inward flow of Na+ dominates
– Produces EPSPs in skeletal
muscle
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Muscarinic ACh Channel
• Binding of 1 ACh activates G-protein cascade
which affects gated K+ channels
– Opens some, causing hyperpolarization (ex.
Slows SA-node Heart pacemaker)
– Closes others, causing depolarization
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Monoamine Neurotransmitter 2nd messenger
action
2nd Messenger = cyclic AMP
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EPSPs
• Graded in magnitude
• Have no threshold
• Cause depolarization
• Summate
• Have no refractory period
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Temporal Summation
• Temporal summation occurs because EPSPs that occur
closely in time can sum before they fade. At same location
close together in time.
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Spatial Summation
• Cable properties cause
EPSPs to fade quickly
over time and distance
• Spatial summation takes
place when EPSPs from
different synapses occur
in postsynaptic cell at
same time. At same time
close together in location.
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