BIOL 1102 Study Guide part 1

Electrical Signaling

The process of transmitting information through changes in membrane potential by ion movement and channel opening/closing.

Resting Potential

Membrane potential when only K+ channels are open, maintaining the cell at a negative charge.

Action Potential

Rapid change in membrane potential due to depolarization, leading to a signal transmission along the axon.

Refractory Period

Period after an action potential where the neuron is unresponsive to another stimulus due to ion channel inactivation.

Myelination

Insulation of axons by glial cells, speeding up signal transmission by allowing action potentials to jump between Nodes of Ranvier.

Synapse

Junction between neurons where information is transmitted from the presynaptic cell to the postsynaptic neuron.

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)

Depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron due to the opening of channels allowing Na+ influx.

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential (IPSP)

Hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic neuron due to the opening of channels allowing K+ efflux or Cl- influx.

Spatial Summation

Integration of EPSPs from different synapses to trigger an action potential.

Temporal Summation

Integration of multiple EPSPs arriving quickly at a synapse to trigger an action potential.