PhysioEx Lab Report
Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses
Activity 9: The Action Potential: Putting It All Together
Name: Cris Justine Frusa
Date: 15 October 2024
Session ID: session-08fa9e78-c8a5-53a9-977d-1f841c22f782
Pre-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.
1 Sensory neurons respond to an appropriate sensory stimulus with a change in membrane
potential that is
You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.
2 If the depolarization that reaches the axon is large and suprathreshold, the result in the axon is
You correctly answered: action potentials at higher frequency.
3 At the axon terminal, each action potential causes the release of neurotransmitter. This
neurotransmitter diffuses to the receiving end of an interneuron, where it binds to receptors and
causes
You correctly answered: ion channels to open, so that the receiving end of the interneuron
depolarizes.
4 Interneurons respond to chemical (neurotransmitter) stimulation with a change in membrane
potential that is
You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.
Experiment Results
Predict Questions
1 Predict Question 1: If you apply a very weak, subthreshold stimulus to the sensory receptor
Your answer: action potentials will be generated at all four locations.
2 Predict Question 2: If you apply a moderate stimulus to the sensory receptor
Your answer: a small, depolarizing response will occur at R1 and R2, and action potentials will
occur at R3 and R4.
3 Predict Question 3: If you apply a strong stimulus to the sensory receptor
Your answer: a large, depolarizing response will occur at R1 and R3, and action potentials will
occur at R2 and R4.
Stop & Think Questions
1 Observe the two neurons in the petri dish. What do you think is the resting membrane potential at
the receiving end of the sensory neuron (sensory receptor) and the receiving end of the
interneuron?
You correctly answered: -70 mV.
2 Why is there no response at R3 when you apply a very weak stimulus to the sensory receptor?
You correctly answered: The very weak stimulus does not depolarize the axon of the sensory
neuron to threshold.
3 Why is there a larger, depolarizing response at R1 when you apply a moderate intensity stimulus?
You correctly answered: The stimulus induces a graded receptor potential at R1.
Experiment Data
Stimulus Sensory Sensory Sensory Interneuron Interneuron
Neuron Neuron AP Neuron Membrane AP Frequency
Membrane Frequency (Hz) Vesicles Potential (mV) (Hz) in Axon
Potential (mV) in Axon (R2) Released from Receiving End (R4)
Receptor (R1) Axon Terminal (R3)
(S)
None -70 -70
Weak -60 0 0 -70 0
Moderate -40 16.6 4 -50 5
Strong -25 33.3 6 -40 10
Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.
1 What determines the amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory receptor (R1)?
You correctly answered: The strength of the stimulus applied to the sensory receptor.
2 What determines the frequency of action potentials in the axon of the sensory neuron (R2)?
You correctly answered: The amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory receptor (R1).
3 Which of the following directly determines the amount of neurotransmitter released at the axon
terminal of the sensory neuron?
You correctly answered: The amount of calcium that enters the sensory receptor.
4 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the amount of neurotransmitter released
at the axon terminal of the sensory neuron?
You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the amount of
neurotransmitter released.
5 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the frequency of action potentials in the
axon of the interneuron?
You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the frequency of action
potentials in the axon of the interneuron.
Review Sheet Results
1 Why is the resting membrane potential the same value in both the sensory neuron and the
interneuron?
Your answer:
The resting membrane potential is the same in both the sensory neuron and the interneuron
because it depends on similar ion concentration gradients and membrane permeability. Both
types of neurons generally have similar membrane properties, resulting in a comparable resting
potential around -70 mV.
2 Describe what happened when you applied a very weak stimulus to the sensory receptor. How
well did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
When a very weak stimulus was applied to the sensory receptor, no action potential was
generated because the stimulus was insufficient to reach the threshold. This result likely matched
your prediction that a weak stimulus would not activate the neuron.
3 Describe what happened when you applied a moderate stimulus was to the sensory receptor.
How well did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
When a moderate stimulus was applied to the sensory receptor, it generated action potentials
because the stimulus was strong enough to reach the threshold.
4 Identify the type of membrane potential (graded receptor potential or action potential) that
occurred at R1, R2, R3, and R4 when you applied a moderate stimulus (view Experiment Results to
view the response to this stimulus).
Your answer:
The graded receptor potential at R1 responds to the initial stimulus, while R2, R3, and R4 generate
action potentials due to the stimulus reaching the threshold.
5 Describe what happened when you applied a strong stimulus to the sensory receptor. How well
did the results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
When a strong stimulus was applied to the sensory receptor, it generated multiple action
potentials due to the stimulus exceeding the threshold significantly.
