Name: E3A3 Modul Neurosains

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses: Activity 3: The Action Potential: Threshold Lab Report

Pre-lab Quiz Results

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1. Axons are
Correct answer: d. long, thin structures that extend from a neuronal cell body.

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2. Which of the following is easier?

Correct answer: a. extracellular recordings of the action potential

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3. An action potential is usually initiated in an axon at or near

Correct answer: d. all of the above

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4. The initiation of an action potential in a sensory neuron in the body normally

Correct answer: 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) Peak Value at R1 (µV) Peak Value at R2 (µV) Action Potential
10 0 0 No
20 100 100 Yes
30 100 100 Yes
40 100 100 Yes
50 100 100 Yes

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Post-lab Quiz Results
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Review Sheet Results
1. Define the term threshold as it applies to an action potential.
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2. What change in membrane potential (depolarization or hyperpolarization) triggers an action potential?

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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?
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4. An action potential is an "all-or-nothing" event. Explain what is meant by this phrase

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5. What part of a neuron was investigated in this activity?

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