Neural Opening Questions for Quiz 1

When does motor development stop?

Death

What is something that would be studied in the field of motor learning?

learning how to overhand throw/ kick a ball

Gaining an understanding of how all parts/ elements work together?

Complex system approach

Gaining an understanding of individual details of the parts

Reductionism

Difference between convection and diffusion

Both are high to low, convection has to do with pressure, diffusion has to do with concentration

Ions move under the influence of what 2 forces?

Concentration gradient and difference in potential

What is the typical resting membrane potential?

-70 mV

What is an Action Potential

electrical signal, regenerative, caused by a stimulus

Membrane potential during Depolarization

More positive

Membrane potential during Hyperpolarization

More negative

All-or-None law in relation to generation of Action Potenial

They either hit threshold or they don’t

What causes the absolute refractory period

sodium channel inactivation

What causes the relative refractory period

hyperpolarization

Would a large intensity stimulus, such as stepping on a sharp object, cause larger action potentials to be generated? Why or why not?

No, because of the all-or-none law

What is different about the conductance/behavior of sodium channels compared to potassium channels during an action potential?

Na Channels open and close very quickly, K Channels slowly open and stay open for longer before closing

What are the two factors that affect the speed at which action potentials are conducted through the nervous system?

Axon diameter and myelination

The fastest conducting axons in the nervous system would have what two characteristics? What about the slowest conducting neurons?

Fastest: large diameter, myelinated

Slowest: small diameter, unmyelinated

Difference between Orthodromic and Antidromic

Orthodromic: motor neurons, cell body - axon

Antidromic: sensory neurons, axon - cell body

Persistent Inward Currents can occur with what type of neuron? What is the benefit of persistent inward currents from a movement perspective?

Motor neuron, allow for increase of number of action potential generated

What is the difference between an obligatory and a non-obligatory synapse?

Obligatory 1 pre: 1 post

Non-obligatory more than 1 pre required for 1 post

What type of synapse is faster, a chemical synapse or an electrical synapse?

Electrical synapse is faster because it has no neurotransmitter and does not need diffusion

What type of summation uses multiple action potentials from different presynaptic membranes arriving very close to each other (adjacent locations) to cause a postsynaptic action potential?

Spatial summation

What type of summation uses many action potentials from the same presynaptic membrane arriving within a short time period to cause a postsynaptic action potential?

Temporal summation