PSYO 2570 Chapter Notes - Fall 2018 Chapter 2 - Threshold potential, Sensory neuron, Membrane potential
20 Sep 2018
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Document Summary
Nerve cells generate a variety of electrical signals that transmit and store information. Neurons are not good conductors but have mechanisms that help them generate electrical signals based on ions crossing their plasma membrane. Neurons constantly generate a negative potential called: resting membrane potential. Action potential: is an electrical signal that transiently abolishes to the resting potential. (makes the membrane more positive). These action potentials propagate among cells to carry information. The best way to measure the electrical signals is with an intracellular electrode. The resting membrane potential voltages can be around -40mv to -90mv (varies among cells). Receptors potentials: produce by the activation of a sensory receptor by external stimuli (light, sound ). Synaptic potentials: difference in voltage between the inside and outside of a post- synaptic neuron, which allows transmission of information from one neuron to another. Action potentials: (also known as spikes or impulses) these are signals that travel along the axon.
