PhysioEx Lab Report

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses

Activity 5: The Action Potential: Measuring Its Absolute and Relative Refractory Periods
Name: Faustine Caybot
Date: 7 October 2023
Session ID: session-c076ef6a-f491-a6f3-4b01-0d129a92b480

Pre-lab Quiz Results

You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.

1 Which of the following occurs after the peak of the action potential?

You correctly answered: All of these occur.

2 What is meant by Na+ channel inactivation?

You correctly answered: The Na+ channel no longer allows Na+ ions to pass through it.

3 What happens when voltage-gated K+ channels open?

You correctly answered: All of these occur.

4 It is harder to generate a second action potential soon after the first action potential
because

You correctly answered: All of these make it harder to generate a second action potential.

Experiment Results
Predict Question
1 Predict Question: If you further decrease the interval between the stimuli, will the
threshold for the second action potential change?

Your answer: The threshold for the second action potential will be higher (requiring a
larger depolarization).

Stop & Think Question

1 Threshold can be defined as the minimum voltage needed to generate an action

potential. Is the threshold for the first action potential the same as, or different from, the
 threshold for the second action potential with a 60 msec interval?

You correctly answered: The threshold for the first action potential is lower than the
threshold for the second action potential.

Experiment Data

Interval Between Stimuli Stimulus Voltage (mV) Second Action Potential?

(msec)
250 20 Yes
125 20 Yes
60 20 No
60 25 No
60 30 Yes
30 30 No
30 35 No
30 40 No
30 45 Yes
15 60 Yes
7.5 60 Yes
3.75 60 No
Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.

1 What is the original threshold for this neuron?

You correctly answered: A 20 mV depolarization to -50 mV.

2 As the interval between stimuli decreases, the depolarization needed to generate the
second action potential

You correctly answered: increases.

3 Judging from your results, what time period after the first action potential best describes
 the relative refractory period (the time when a second action potential can be generated
only if the stimulus intensity is increased)?

You correctly answered: 7.5-60 msec.

4 At what interval between stimuli did the second action potential fail, regardless of the
stimulus intensity?

You correctly answered: 3.75 msec.

5 What is the absolute refractory period for this neuron?

You correctly answered: 3.75 msec.

Review Sheet Results

1 Define inactivation as it applies to a voltage-gated sodium channel.

Your answer:

When inactivation of the voltage-gated sodium channels occurs, sodium ions can no
longer diffuse through it.

2 Define the absolute refractory period.

Your answer:

The absolute refractory period is the least interval between stimulations wherein a
second action potential could no longer occur, despite how strong a stimulus is.

3 How did the threshold for the second action potential change as you further decreased
the interval between the stimuli? How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

As the interval between each stimulus is decreased, the threshold for the second action
potential will be higher because there are sodium channels that have previously been
inactivated and cannot be reopened immediately, thus, the sodium ion channels to be
opened are few enough to prevent a second action potential.
My prediction is parallel to the results of the simulation.

4 Why is it harder to generate a second action potential during the relative refractory
period?
Your answer:

At a relative refractory period, a second action potential can be generated, but only with a
stronger stimulus than what was initially needed. This happens because after the peak of
the first action potential, some sodium ion channels cannot be reopened immediately by
another depolarizing voltage for a few milliseconds, and so, to reach more sodium ion
channels in the cell membrane of the cell, more stimulus intensity is needed.