Membrane Potential and Action Potentials in Nervous System

A collection of flashcards summarizing key concepts related to membrane potential, action potentials, synaptic transmission, and memory in the nervous system.

Membrane Potential (Vm)

Voltage generated due to the distribution of charges across a cell membrane, measured in millivolts (mV).

Resting Membrane Potential

The membrane potential of a cell when it is not being stimulated, typically around -65mV.

Equilibrium Potential (E)

The membrane potential at which there is no net movement of an ion, balancing electrical and chemical forces.

Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) Equation

An equation used to predict the membrane potential based on the permeability and concentration gradients of different ions.

Action Potential

A rapid depolarization followed by repolarization in a neuron, crucial for signal transmission.

Threshold

The minimum depolarization level that must be reached to generate an action potential.

Depolarization

A decrease in membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more positive.

Hyperpolarization

An increase in membrane potential, making the inside of the cell more negative.

Sodium-Potassium Pump

A pump that maintains concentration gradients of Na+ and K+ across the membrane, critical for establishing resting membrane potential.

Synaptic Transmission

The process by which neurotransmitters are released from a presynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on a postsynaptic neuron.

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

A transient depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane due to the influx of cations (e.g., Na+).

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)

A transient hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane due to the influx of anions (e.g., Cl-) or the efflux of cations (e.g., K+).

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another.

Sensory Memory

Very short-term retention of sensory information that lasts up to three seconds.

Short-term Memory

Memory that lasts seconds to approximately one minute, electrical in nature and easily forgotten.

Long-term Memory

Memory that lasts minutes to a lifetime, dependent on synaptic plasticity and effort made to retain information.