PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PRELIM PERIOD
WEEK 2: THE NERVE IMPULSE
THE NERVE IMPULSE
 It is the electrical message that is transmitted down the
axon of a neuron.
 The impulse does not travel directly down the axon but
is regenerated at points along the axon so that is not
weakened.
 The speed of nerve impulse ranges from less than 1
meter/second to 100 meter/second.
RESTING POTENTIAL OF THE NEURON
 Messages in a neuron develop from disturbances of
the resting potential.
 When at rest, the membrane maintains an Electrical
Gradient, also known as polarization - a difference in
electrical charge between the inside and outside of the
cell.
 At rest,
the
membrane maintains an electrical polarization or a
difference in the electrical charge of two locations.
The inside of the membrane is slightly negative with
respect to the outside (approximately -70 millivolts)
 Resting Potential of a neuron refers to the state of the
neuron prior to the sending of a nerve impulse.
-The difference in voltage.
 The membrane is selectively permeable, allowing
some chemicals to pass more freely than others.
 Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride.
 When the membrane is at rest:
 Sodium (Na+) channels are closed
 Potassium (k+) channels are partially closed
allowing the slow passage of potassium
FORCES ACTING ON SODIUM AND
POTASSIUM IONS
Certain types of stimulation that open the channels –
permitting the flow of both ions:
 Sodium-potassium pump - a protein complex,
repeatedly transports three sodium ions out of the cell
while drawing two potassium ions into it.
 Helps to maintain the electrical gradient
 The electrical gradient and the concentration gradient
works to pull sodium ions into the cell.
 The electrical gradient tends to pull potassium ions
into the cells, but they slowly leak out, carrying a
positive charge with them.
WHY A RESTING POTENTIAL?
The body invests much energy to operate the sodium–
potassium pump, which maintains the resting potential. Why
is it worth so much energy? The resting potential prepares
the neuron to respond rapidly
THE ACTION POTENTIAL
 Messages sent by axon are called action potentials.
 Hyperpolarization, which means increased
polarization.
 Depolarization, refers to decreasing the polarization
towards zero
 The threshold of excitement refers to a level above
which any stimulation produces a massive
depolarization.
Action Potential
 Is a rapid depolarization of the neuron
 The action potential threshold varies from one
neuron to another
 Stimulation of neuron past the threshold of
excitation triggers a nerve impulse or action
potential.
THE ALL-OR-NONE LAW
- Is that the amplitude and velocity of an action potential
are independent of the intensity of the stimulus that
initiated it, provided that the stimulus reaches the
threshold.
THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF THE ACTION
POTENTIAL
1. At the start, sodium ions are mostly outside the
neuron, and potassium ions are mostly inside.
2. When the membrane is depolarized, sodium and
potassium channels in the membrane open.
3. At the peak of the action potential, the sodium
channels close.
LOCAL ANESTHETIC
 Novocain and Xylocaine, attach to the sodium
channels of the membrane, preventing sodium ions
from entering.
PROPAGATION OF THE ACTION
POTENTIAL
 In a motor neuron, the action potential begins at the
axon hillock (a swelling where the axon exits the
soma)
 The term propagation of the action potential describes
the transmission of an action potential down an axon.
 The action potential does not directly travel
down the axon
PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PRELIM PERIOD
MYELIN SHEATH AND SALTATORY LOCAL NEURONS
CONDUCTION - small neurons have no axon; neurons without an axon
exchange information with only their closest neighbors
SHEATHS OF MYELIN
- increase the speed still more, vertebrate axons evolved GRADED POTENTIAL
a special mechanism  When a local neuron receives information from other
 An insulating material composed of fats and neurons, it has a graded potential
proteins.

 The myelin sheath of axons are interrupted by short

unmyelinated sections called nodes of Ranvier
 At each node of Ranvier, the action potential is
regenerated by a chain of positively charged ion
pushed along by the previous segment

SALTATORY CONDUCTION
- The jumping of action potentials from node to node.
“Saltare” meaning “to jump”.
 Provides rapid conduction of impulses
 Conserves energy for the cell
 Multiple sclerosis: disease in which the myelin sheath
is destroyed and associated with poor muscle
coordination and sometimes visual impairments

REFRACTORY PERIOD
- After an action potential, a neuron has a refractory
period during which time the neuron resists the
production of another action potential
 The absolute refractory period is the first part of the
period in which the membrane cannot produce an
action potential
 The relative refractory period is the second part in
which it takes a stronger than usual stimulus to trigger
an action potential