Nt1310 Unit 4 Case Study

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1. Explain what happened to the CAP amplitude as voltage applied to the neuron was changed. Be specific with your results and explain why the amplitude was smaller with some voltages and larger with other voltages. Increasing the shock voltage recruits more axons into the response until all of the axons in the sciatic nerve are above threshold, and an action potential is produced. Thus, the compound action potential would increase as the shocks of voltage increased. The amplitude was smaller with some voltages, because a mild shock only brought a few axons to threshold, which elicits a small compound action potential. A few of the voltages produced no response, because the shock did not produce any action potentials. This can be seen on the …show more content…

Discuss what happend to the second CAP as the interval was changed between the shocks. Explain why these results were seen in relationship to absolute and relative refractory periods.
As the time interval was changed between the shocks, the amplitude of the second CAP began to increase. This was seen when the time interval increased from 1.0 to 1.5. The compound action potential went from 0 to 0.1. The height (or maximum threshold) of the amplitude was seen at about 2.6. Once the time interval was increased past that point the compound action potential fell back down to zero. This was seen in the intervals of 8.0 to 9.0, where the amplitude is 0. To understand why these results were seen in relation to absolute, and relative refractory periods one should understand there definitions. The absolute refractory period, “is a time during which another stimulus given to the neuron (no matter how strong) will not lead to a second action potential” (PhysiologyWeb,2012). This period takes about 1 to 2 milliseconds, and it is a time when the sodium ion channels are inactive. The relative refractory period, “is a period during which a stronger than normal stimulus is needed in order to elicit an action potential”

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