PhysioEx Lab Report

Exercise 3: Neurophysiology of Nerve Impulses

Pre-lab Quiz Results

1 Sensory neurons respond to an appropriate sensory stimulus with a change in membrane

You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.

2 If the depolarization that reaches the axon is large and suprathreshold, the result in the
axon is

You correctly answered: action potentials at higher frequency.

3 At the axon terminal, each action potential causes the release of neurotransmitter. This
neurotransmitter diffuses to the receiving end of an interneuron, where it binds to
receptors and causes

You correctly answered: ion channels to open, so that the receiving end of the
interneuron depolarizes.

4 Interneurons respond to chemical (neurotransmitter) stimulation with a change in

You correctly answered: graded with the stimulus intensity.

Experiment Results
Predict Questions

1 Predict Question 1: If you apply a very weak, subthreshold stimulus to the sensory
receptor
 Your answer: a small, depolarizing response will occur at R1, and no responses will occur
at R2, R3, and R4.

2 Predict Question 2: If you apply a moderate stimulus to the sensory receptor

Your answer: a larger, depolarizing response will occur at R1, and an action potential will
be generated at R2 and maybe at R4.

3 Predict Question 3: If you apply a strong stimulus to the sensory receptor

Your answer: a large, depolarizing response will occur at R1 and R3, and action potentials
will occur at R2 and R4.

Stop & Think Questions

1 Observe the two neurons in the petri dish. What do you think is the resting membrane
potential at the receiving end of the sensory neuron (sensory receptor) and the receiving
end of the interneuron?

You correctly answered: -70 mV.

2 Why is there no response at R3 when you apply a very weak stimulus to the sensory
receptor?

You correctly answered: The very weak stimulus does not depolarize the axon of the
sensory neuron to threshold.

3 Why is there a larger, depolarizing response at R1 when you apply a moderate intensity
stimulus?

You correctly answered: The stimulus induces a graded receptor potential at R1.

Experiment Data
Stimulus Sensory Sensory Sensory Interneuron Interneuron
Neuron Neuron AP Neuron Membrane AP
Membrane Frequency Vesicles Potential Frequency
Potential (Hz) in Axon Released (mV) (Hz) in Axon
(mV) (R2) from Axon Receiving (R4)
Receptor (R1) Terminal (S) End (R3)
None -70 -70
Weak -60 0 0 -70 0
Moderate -40 16.6 4 -50 5
Strong -25 33.3 6 -40 10
Post-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.

1 What determines the amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory receptor (R1)?

You correctly answered: The strength of the stimulus applied to the sensory receptor.

2 What determines the frequency of action potentials in the axon of the sensory neuron
(R2)?

You correctly answered: The amplitude of the depolarization at the sensory receptor (R1).

3 Which of the following directly determines the amount of neurotransmitter released at

You correctly answered: The amount of calcium that enters the sensory receptor.
4 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the amount of neurotransmitter
released at the axon terminal of the sensory neuron?

You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the amount of
neurotransmitter released.

5 Which of the following directly or indirectly determines the frequency of action potentials
in the axon of the interneuron?

You correctly answered: All of the above play a role in determining the frequency of
action potentials in the axon of the interneuron.

Review Sheet Results

Your answer:

The resting membrane potential is the same value as because it is the the typical resting
membrane potential regardless of the type of neuron.

2 Describe what happened when you applied a very weak stimulus to the sensory receptor.
How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

A small depolarizing response occurs at R1 but none occured at R2, R3, R4, therefore my
prediction is correct.

3 Describe what happened when you applied a moderate stimulus was to the sensory
receptor. How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

When I applied moderate stimulus to the sensory receptor, a larger, depolarizing

4 Identify the type of membrane potential (graded receptor potential or action potential)
that occurred at R1, R2, R3, and R4 when you applied a moderate stimulus (view
Experiment Results to view the response to this stimulus).
 Your answer:

A graded stimulus happened at R3 and R1 and an action potential occurred at R4 and R2.

5 Describe what happened when you applied a strong stimulus to the sensory receptor.
How well did the results compare with your prediction?

Your answer:

A large, depolarizing response occured when I applied a strong stimulus, therefore, my