You are characterizing the firing rate of a neuron by continuously injecting dif

Question

You are characterizing the firing rate of a neuron by continuously injecting different amounts of current into the cell.

You plot the results: (1 pt) From this data, what would you conclude is the duration of the absolute refractory period of the neuron? Briefly explain your thinking. b.(2 pts) Briefly explain (1-2 sentence) the difference in the mechanisms underlying these two types of refractory periods.

(2 pts) The neuron you characterized above is a pain-sensing neuron (“nociceptor”) from a person with a disorder that makes them hyper-sensitive to pain. You believe the condition is caused by the neuron firing at a higher than normal rate when stimulated. Come up with an idea for a drug that would act on a voltage gated ion channel to help this person. Remember: we want to keep the person’s ability to feel pain, but we want to reduce the pain they feel. For that reason, the drug should reduce, not eliminate, the firing rate. Explain how your drug would work and describe (or insert a sketch of) how the shape of the action potential would change after adding the drug

Explanation / Answer

1) The phase immediately following the action potential where the nerve cells cannot be re-excited is known as refractory period. This refractory period contains two phases: absolute and relative. During absolutre refractory period, the nerves cannot be stimulated however large may be the strength of the stimulus. During relative refractory period, the nerve can be stimulated if greater intensity is applied. The length of absolute refractory period is 1-2 milliseconds.

If the neurons are hypersensitive to pain, the defect in those neurons is that the refractory periods in them may be minimal or absent. A drug which prolongs the refractory period thereby decreasing the firing rate of neurons can be used to reduce or eliminate pain in this individual.

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