Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide

By Nicoladie Tam

“Action Potential” is a part of the college-level Principles of Biology course series and the Neuropsychopharmacology course series textbooks.  It is a tutorial written in questions and answers format to describe the physiology of action potentials, nerve impulses and graded potentials in neurons.

It is a study guide with in-depth explanations.  Each section is a modular unit that is self-contained for easy reading. The principles and concepts are introduced systematically so students can learn and retain the materials intuitively.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicoladie Tam
• Release date: Jun 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781301115372

Nicoladie Tam

Dr. Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., is a writer and a professor who does research in emotions and the brain.  She is an expert in neuropsychology, neurophysiology, brain imaging, computational neuroscience, and bioengineering.  She has a Ph.D. degree in Physiology, and three Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Physics and Astrophysics.  She has also been a suicide and crisis counselor, with extensive counseling experience in relationships and crisis management.  She is also a life coach, who does relationship coaching and executive coaching, inspires others in achieving the very best.

Book preview

Preface

Action Potential is a part of the college-level Principles of Biology course series and the Neuropsychopharmacology course series textbooks.  It is a tutorial written in questions and answers format to describe the physiology of action potentials, nerve impulses and graded potentials in neurons.

It is a study guide with in-depth explanations.  Each section is a modular unit that is self-contained for easy reading. The principles and concepts are introduced systematically so students can learn and retain the materials intuitively.

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Textbooks by Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., in the Principles of Biology course series:

Principles of Biology textbook in one volume:

Principles of Biology: Animal Systems

ISBN 9781301691739

Individual chapters of the Principles of Biology textbook series:

Biological System

ISBN 9781301003891

Scientific Methods

ISBN 9781301898688

Biological Principles

ISBN 9781310803666

Origin of Species

ISBN 9781301352456

Nervous System

ISBN 9781301053025

Neuron

ISBN 9781301119646

Action Potential

ISBN 9781301115372

Synapse

ISBN 9781301374120

Reflex

ISBN 9781301991266

Neurotransmitter

ISBN 9781301268610

Sensory System

ISBN 9781301660070

Motor System

ISBN 9781301500895

Endocrine System

ISBN 9781301642939

Reproductive System

ISBN 9781301424078

Circulatory System

ISBN 9781301262410

Respiratory System

ISBN 9781301805389

Immune System

ISBN 9781301452309

Renal System

ISBN 9781301927111

Digestive System

ISBN 9781301317097

Textbooks by Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., in the Neuropsychopharmacology course series:

Neuropsychopharmacology textbook in one volume:

Neuropsychopharmacology

ISBN 9781311596178

Individual chapters of Neuropsychopharmacology textbook series:

Neuropsychopharmacology: An Introduction

ISBN 9781301482733

Scientific Methods

ISBN 9781301898688

Mind-Brain Connection

ISBN 9781301903405

Pharmacology: In Introduction

ISBN 9781301843534

Pharmacokinetics

ISBN 9781301010776

Dose-Response Curve

ISBN 9781301541812

Learning Mechanisms

ISBN 9781301729531

Cognitive Learning

ISBN 9781301966455

Experimental Methods in Neuropsychopharmacology

ISBN 9781301966455

Brain Imaging Techniques

ISBN 9781311863638

Nervous System

ISBN 9781301053025

Neuron

ISBN 9781301119646

Action Potential

ISBN 9781301115372

Synapse

ISBN 9781301374120

Reflex

ISBN 9781301991266

Neurotransmitter

ISBN 9781301268610

Neurotransmitter Pathways

ISBN 9781301696666

Cytoplasmic Release of Neurotransmitters

ISBN 9781311978615

Executive Functions

ISBN 9781301125968

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ISBN 9781301318445

Schizophrenia

ISBN 9781301972692

Affective Disorders: Depression, Mania and Bipolar Disorder

ISBN 9781311988416

Anxiety Disorders

ISBN 9781311060419

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Table of Contents

Cover Page

Preface

Action Potential

Membrane Potentials

Ionic Channels

Na-K Pump

Mechanisms of Action Potentials

Action Potentials

Refractory Period

Conduction Velocity

About the Author

Other Books Published by the Author

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1. 

Action Potential

Objectives

Understand the electrical potentials

Understand the function of membrane potentials

Understand the function of action potentials

Understand the mechanisms in generating membrane potentials

Understand the mechanisms in generating action potentials

Understand the factors affecting conduction velocity

Understand the role of myelination

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1.1.

Membrane Potentials

Objectives

Understand how electrical potentials are generated across the membrane

Concepts to Learn

Understand how electrical charge difference can create electrical potentials

Generation of resting potential

Role of influx of Na+ ions

Role of efflux of K+ ions

Role of Na-K pump

Q&A

What is membrane potential?

It is the electrical potential difference generated between the inside and outside of a cell.  That is, a cell is electrically charged, resulting in a voltage difference across the membrane.

Many cells in the body are electrically charged for communication or for direction motility.  The electrical charge provides attraction and repulsion depending on whether electrical charges are opposite or the same.  Opposite charges (positive and negative charges) attract whereas same charge (either both positive or both negative) repels.

If we put a voltmeter across the membrane and measure the electrical potential between the inside and outside of a cell, and if the cell is electrically charged, it will show a voltage difference.

What is an electrical potential?

It is the difference in electrical charge between two locations, which produces potential energy if the charges are released.

This electrical difference generates an attraction force if the charge separations are between positive and negative charge.  This attraction force creates a potential for energy dissipation, i.e., when you release the charges, they will attract each other, and move with energy to come closer together.  This capacity to produce energy as a result of the movement of attraction is called the electrical potential, or potential energy.

An analogy is gravitational potential, which is also another form of potential energy.  When you separate two objects apart, such as moving a rock above the earth, it creates gravitational potential energy.  It means that when you release the rock, the rock will fall toward the earth (come closer together), releasing the potential energy.  That is, the farther apart they are, the more potential energy they will gain.

Similarly, if you have two charges (positive and negative charges), the farther apart they are, the more potential they will have.  When you release them and they will come together, releasing the potential energy.

The phenomenon is the same