Action potentials 1. Explain what happened to the CAP amplitude as voltage appli

Question

Action potentials

1. Explain what happened to the CAP amplitude as voltage applied to the neuron was changed. Be specific with your results and explain why the amplitude was smaller with some voltages and larger with other voltages.

2. Describe the effect that temperature had on the conduction velocity, time delay, duration and enzyme activity of the nerve.

3. Discuss what happened to the second CAP as the interval was changed between the shocks. Explain why these results were seen in relationship to absolute and relative refractory periods.

Explanation / Answer

A small amount of is applied to the axon for threshold by administering a mid shock.By increasing voltage, more axons recruit above the threshold voltage and an Compound Action potential(CAP) is generated. By further increase in voltage, there would be no effect on CAP (remains constant) because all the axons have reached their peak voltage.

CAP is smaller at low voltage, because at a lower voltage only a small amount of axons show excitement.And at a high voltage, a grater peak is visible because of more number of excited axons.

2.At a low temperature, opening and closing of ion gates become slow and decreasing the conduction velocity of action potential.and vice versa on increasing temperature.

Decrease in temperature effects the opening and closing of gates and also inactivate,and consiquently decrease the time of conduction.

Enzyme activity also changea with change in temperature, at a particular high temperature enzynes show their maximum saturation and a further increase in temperature can cause denaturation of enzyme ,hence slowing down conduction

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