NROB60H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Oscilloscope, Axon Terminal, Voltage Clamp
9 Dec 2020
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We can study the membrane potential by putting an electrode inside the cell. However, because action potential occurs rapidly we need an oscilloscope to measure them. Intracellular recording = requires impaling the neuron or axon with a microelectrode. This can be challenging as neurons are so small. This is why action potentials were first measured on invertebrates which have 50-100 times larger neurons. Measure the potential difference between the tip of the intracellular electrode and another electrode placed in the solution bathing the neuron (electrically continuous with the earth, and thus called ground). The electrode is filled with a concentrated salt solution (often kcl) because high electrical conductivity. It"s connected to an amplifier that compares the difference between the 2 electrodes. Calculate the brief change in the voltage difference between the cell and the ground electricity. Rising phase = rapid depolarization until 40mv where the inside of the neuron is positively charged and the outside is overshoot.
