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    Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide
    Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide
    Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide
    Ebook96 pages59 minutes

    Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide

    By Nicoladie Tam

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    About this ebook

    “Action Potential” is a part of the college-level Principles of Biology course series and the Neuropsychopharmacology course series textbooks.  It is a tutorial written in questions and answers format to describe the physiology of action potentials, nerve impulses and graded potentials in neurons.

    It is a study guide with in-depth explanations.  Each section is a modular unit that is self-contained for easy reading. The principles and concepts are introduced systematically so students can learn and retain the materials intuitively.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNicoladie Tam
    Release dateJun 9, 2015
    ISBN9781301115372
    Action Potential: A Tutorial Study Guide
    Author

    Nicoladie Tam

    Dr. Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., is a writer and a professor who does research in emotions and the brain.  She is an expert in neuropsychology, neurophysiology, brain imaging, computational neuroscience, and bioengineering.  She has a Ph.D. degree in Physiology, and three Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Physics and Astrophysics.  She has also been a suicide and crisis counselor, with extensive counseling experience in relationships and crisis management.  She is also a life coach, who does relationship coaching and executive coaching, inspires others in achieving the very best.

    Read more from Nicoladie Tam

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      Book preview

      Action Potential - Nicoladie Tam

      Preface

      Action Potential is a part of the college-level Principles of Biology course series and the Neuropsychopharmacology course series textbooks.  It is a tutorial written in questions and answers format to describe the physiology of action potentials, nerve impulses and graded potentials in neurons.

      It is a study guide with in-depth explanations.  Each section is a modular unit that is self-contained for easy reading. The principles and concepts are introduced systematically so students can learn and retain the materials intuitively.

      *~*~*~*~*

      Textbooks by Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., in the Principles of Biology course series:

      Principles of Biology textbook in one volume:

      Principles of Biology: Animal Systems

      ISBN 9781301691739

      Individual chapters of the Principles of Biology textbook series:

      Biological System

      ISBN 9781301003891

      Scientific Methods

      ISBN 9781301898688

      Biological Principles

      ISBN 9781310803666

      Origin of Species

      ISBN 9781301352456

      Nervous System

      ISBN 9781301053025

      Neuron

      ISBN 9781301119646

      Action Potential

      ISBN 9781301115372

      Synapse

      ISBN 9781301374120

      Reflex

      ISBN 9781301991266

      Neurotransmitter

      ISBN 9781301268610

      Sensory System

      ISBN 9781301660070

      Motor System

      ISBN 9781301500895

      Endocrine System

      ISBN 9781301642939

      Reproductive System

      ISBN 9781301424078

      Circulatory System

      ISBN 9781301262410

      Respiratory System

      ISBN 9781301805389

      Immune System

      ISBN 9781301452309

      Renal System

      ISBN 9781301927111

      Digestive System

      ISBN 9781301317097

      Textbooks by Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D., in the Neuropsychopharmacology course series:

      Neuropsychopharmacology textbook in one volume:

      Neuropsychopharmacology

      ISBN 9781311596178

      Individual chapters of Neuropsychopharmacology textbook series:

      Neuropsychopharmacology: An Introduction

      ISBN 9781301482733

      Scientific Methods

      ISBN 9781301898688

      Mind-Brain Connection

      ISBN 9781301903405

      Pharmacology: In Introduction

      ISBN 9781301843534

      Pharmacokinetics

      ISBN 9781301010776

      Dose-Response Curve

      ISBN 9781301541812

      Learning Mechanisms

      ISBN 9781301729531

      Cognitive Learning

      ISBN 9781301966455

      Experimental Methods in Neuropsychopharmacology

      ISBN 9781301966455

      Brain Imaging Techniques

      ISBN 9781311863638

      Nervous System

      ISBN 9781301053025

      Neuron

      ISBN 9781301119646

      Action Potential

      ISBN 9781301115372

      Synapse

      ISBN 9781301374120

      Reflex

      ISBN 9781301991266

      Neurotransmitter

      ISBN 9781301268610

      Neurotransmitter Pathways

      ISBN 9781301696666

      Cytoplasmic Release of Neurotransmitters

      ISBN 9781311978615

      Executive Functions

      ISBN 9781301125968

      ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

      ISBN 9781301318445

      Schizophrenia

      ISBN 9781301972692

      Affective Disorders: Depression, Mania and Bipolar Disorder

      ISBN 9781311988416

      Anxiety Disorders

      ISBN 9781311060419

      *~*~*~*~*

      Table of Contents

      Cover Page

      Preface

      Action Potential

      Membrane Potentials

      Ionic Channels

      Na-K Pump

      Mechanisms of Action Potentials

      Action Potentials

      Refractory Period

      Conduction Velocity

      About the Author

      Other Books Published by the Author

      *~*~*~*~*

      1. 

      Action Potential

      Objectives

      Understand the electrical potentials

      Understand the function of membrane potentials

      Understand the function of action potentials

      Understand the mechanisms in generating membrane potentials

      Understand the mechanisms in generating action potentials

      Understand the factors affecting conduction velocity

      Understand the role of myelination

      *~*~*~*~*

      1.1.

      Membrane Potentials

      Objectives

      Understand how electrical potentials are generated across the membrane

      Concepts to Learn

      Understand how electrical charge difference can create electrical potentials

      Generation of resting potential

      Role of influx of Na+ ions

      Role of efflux of K+ ions

      Role of Na-K pump

      Q&A

      What is membrane potential?

      It is the electrical potential difference generated between the inside and outside of a cell.  That is, a cell is electrically charged, resulting in a voltage difference across the membrane.

      Many cells in the body are electrically charged for communication or for direction motility.  The electrical charge provides attraction and repulsion depending on whether electrical charges are opposite or the same.  Opposite charges (positive and negative charges) attract whereas same charge (either both positive or both negative) repels.

      If we put a voltmeter across the membrane and measure the electrical potential between the inside and outside of a cell, and if the cell is electrically charged, it will show a voltage difference.

      What is an electrical potential?

      It is the difference in electrical charge between two locations, which produces potential energy if the charges are released.

      This electrical difference generates an attraction force if the charge separations are between positive and negative charge.  This attraction force creates a potential for energy dissipation, i.e., when you release the charges, they will attract each other, and move with energy to come closer together.  This capacity to produce energy as a result of the movement of attraction is called the electrical potential, or potential energy.

      An analogy is gravitational potential, which is also another form of potential energy.  When you separate two objects apart, such as moving a rock above the earth, it creates gravitational potential energy.  It means that when you release the rock, the rock will fall toward the earth (come closer together), releasing the potential energy.  That is, the farther apart they are, the more potential energy they will gain.

      Similarly, if you have two charges (positive and negative charges), the farther apart they are, the more potential they will have.  When you release them and they will come together, releasing the potential energy.

      The phenomenon is the same

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