Experiment 8- Neuronal Circuitry Flashcards
What is the voltage across the CHARGING capacitor as a function of time?
V= V0(1-e^-t/RC), where V0 is the voltage placed in series with the capacitor, product RC is referred to the time constant, representing the capacitor to charge to 63% of its initial value.
What is the voltage across a DISCHARGING capacitor as a function of time?
V= V0.e^-t/RC, where RC represents the amount of time for 37% of the value to be discharged.
What is important to note about the orientation of an electrolytic capacitor?
The longer wire should be coming from the positive (flat) terminal. This meaning that the orientation of the capacitor matters.
What are the neuronal components of the brain that allow for communication and what are their respective roles?
Dendrites and terminal branches allow nerve cells to communicate with other cells and axons allow cells to transmit information over long distances.
Information is transmitted through neurons via _____.
Electricity.
When is an electrical current generated?
When charges are separated, leading to a potential difference across two points of a conducting material.
What is the mechanism used for charge generation inside the brain?
Electrolytic mechanism, requiring the transport of charged ions through diffusion properties.
Describe what happens for neurons to allow transportation of electricity.
Neuronal cell membranes have ion channels that allow for the flow of ions. Ion channels allow for the cell membrane to control the diffusion of ions into and out of the cell. When an electrical impulse is excited, charges are separated, leading to the creation of a potential difference. In that way, the membrane serves as a CAPACITOR while the ion channels serve as RESISTORS.
Define Action Potential
Difference across the ion concentration of a cell membrane.
What is a good rule of thumb for considering the amount of time it takes for a capacitor to be fully charged/discharged.
It takes around 5xRC (the time constant).
