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Electrical Signaling. Resting Membrane Potential Action Potential Post-Synaptic Potential. Signal Processing. Neurons send and receive receive electrical & chemical signals. Resting Membrane Potential. Difference in electrical charge across membrane when neuron is at rest.
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Electrical Signaling Resting Membrane Potential Action Potential Post-Synaptic Potential
Signal Processing Neurons send and receive receive electrical & chemical signals
Resting Membrane Potential Difference in electrical charge across membrane when neuron is at rest
Hodgekin & Huxley ( 1952) • Developed a mathematical model for how electrical signals ( action potentials) are produced and transmitted down the axon. • Describes flow of ions across membrane
Results • Inside of neuron negatively charged • Differential distribution of ions ( electrically charged particles)
Background & Vocabulary of Electrical Signals • Polarized: difference in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of the cell • Ions—electrically charged molecules • Anions are negatively charged • Cations are positively charged • Ions are dissolved in intracellular fluid, or cytoplasm, and are separated from the extracellular fluid by the cell membrane, a lipid bilayer
Electrons: negatively charged • Proton: positively charged • Total number of electrons is not equal to number of protons
Figure 3.2The Distribution of Ions Inside and Outside of aNeuron
Reasons for Differential Distribution of Ions • Selective permeability: • Diffusion • Electrostatic Force • Sodium-potassium pump
1. Selective Permeability • Potassium ions (K+) move freely • Sodium Ions kept outside • WHY??? • Ion channels: Open for K+, Closed for NA+
Figure 3.2The Distribution of Ions Inside and Outside of aNeuron
Ion Channels Regulate Flow of Ions • Gated Channels: Sodium Ions ( Na+) kept outside • Selectively Permeable Channels: Potassium ions ( K+) concentrated inside (we’ll see why soon) • Nodes Of Ranvier: location of Channels on unmyelinated parts of axon
2. Diffusion • Ions move from a high concentration to a low concentration in order to create equilibrium
Diffusion & Ions • Na+: • Concentrated outside • Can’t diffuse inside because channels are closed • K+: • Concentrated inside • Moves outside, but other force moves K+ back in
Figure 3.3Ionic Forces Underlying Electrical Signaling in Neurons
3. Electrostatic Pressure • Ions of similar charges repel • Ions of opposite charge attract
Electrostatic Force & Ions • Na+: • attracted to the inside of the neuron • but can’t enter due to closed channels • K +: • are attracted to inside of neuron • can enter freely
4. Sodium-Potassium Pump • “Leaky” channels: permit a few Na+ ions to enter • Na+/K+ Pump: exchanges 3 Na+ ions from inside for them for 2 K+ ions from outside
Resting Membrane Potential Summary • Polarization: inside of axon is negative relative to outside • Na+ ions located outside ; K+ ions inside • Na+ ions under pressure to move inside due to: • Diffusion- concentration gradient • Electrostatic force- attraction to oppositely charged area • But, Na+ ions kept outside by: • Selectively permeable membrane ( Na+ gates closed) • Sodium-Potassium-Pump ( actively pumps out Na+ ions) • Sets Up Potential Energy, like battery
Action Potential Rapid reversal of RMP, that is transmitted down axon towards next neuron
Changes in Electrical Potential Lead to Action Potential • Neurons receive chemical signals from nearby neurons • Excitatorysignals depolarize the cell membrane (i.e., reduce polarization) • Make inside less negative • Inhibitorysignals hyperpolarize the cell (i.e., increase polarization) • Make inside more negative
Action Potential • rapid reversal of inside potential conveyed down the axon to the next neuron • Triggered when membrane reaches the threshold • Critical level of depolarization—about –40 mV • The membrane potential reverses and the inside of the cell becomes positive
Figure 3.5The Effects of Hyperpolarizing and Depolarizing Stimuli on a Neuron
Local potential • Graded Potential: Size of change in electrical potential coded by strength of input stimulus • The greater the stimulus, the greater the change in membrane potential • Size diminishes as it moves away from the point of stimulation • Occurs at dendrites
Action Potential • All-or-none Potential: • The neuron fires at full amplitude or not at all—the size (amplitude) is independent of stimulus size • Rate Law: Information is encoded in changes in the number of action potentials—with increased stimulus strength more are produced, but the size is the same
Steps in Action Potential • Depolarization: gradual entry of positive ions due to input from other neurons • Threshold: critical level of depolarization; causes all voltage-gated Na+ gates to open • Sodium-Influx: Na+ ions rush in • pushed by diffusion & Electrostatic forces • Membrane potential inside reverses; becomes positively charged • Potassium-Efflux: K+ ion channels open, allowing K+ to leave
Peak: point at which Na+ channels close • Repolarization: K+ still leaving axon, leads to membrane potential returning to negative state • Hyperpolarization: Potassium channels close: membrane slightly more negative than RMP • Sodium-Potassium Pump Kicks in: return to RMP
Action Potentials Spread Along Axon • Propagation: process in which Depolarization travels along an axon like a wave • Uni-directional: Action potentials always move away from the cell body to the terminal buttons. • Saltatory Conduction: Action potential regenerated at node of ranvier- rapid conduction
Chemical Signaling Synapse Neurotransmitters Neuropharmacology
Parts of a Synapse • Presynaptic membrane—on the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron • Synaptic cleft—a gap that separates the membranes • Postsynaptic membrane—on the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron
Steps in Synaptic Transmission • Action potential arrives at the presynaptic axon terminal • Ca++ Influx: Voltage-gated calcium channels in the terminal membrane open and calcium ions (Ca2+) enter • Exocytosis: Release of Neurotransmitter • Calcium ions cause synaptic vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane • Vesicles rupture, releasing transmitter into the synaptic cleft
Receptor Binding: Transmitters bind to specific postsynaptic receptor molecules, causing the opening of ion channels and leading to an EPSP or IPSP • Post-synaptic Potential: EPSPs or IPSPs spread toward the postsynaptic axon hillock—if threshold is reached, an action potential will occur
Termination of signal: Synaptic transmission is rapidly stopped • Re-uptake • Enzymatic Breakdown • Pre-synaptic modulation: Transmitter may activate presynaptic receptors, decreasing transmitter release