Action Potential

Question 1

What is action potential?

Answer 1

• The action potential refers to the method by which the nerve impulse passes down the axon of the neuron to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters.
• This is a tiny electrical impulse that is triggered by a change in the electrical potential of the neuron

Question 2

What is resting potential?

Answer 2

• Neurons have a resting membrane potential of about -70mV, meaning the inside of a neuron has a slight negative charge in relation to the outside of a neuron.

Question 3

What happens when a neuron receives a message from another neuron?

Answer 3

• When a neuron receives a message from another neuron, this chemical message can either increase or reduce its charge

Question 4

How does action potential work?

Answer 4

• Neuron at rest, inside is negatively charged compared to outside
• neuron is stimulated, positively charged particles enter
• Action potential is initiated - neuron is stimulated
• Some positively charged particles pushed outside the neuron, neuron moves towards its polarised site
• neuron has returned to its initial polarised resting state