AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Action Potential. A nerve impulse is a sudden reversal of the electrical gradient across the plasma membrane of a resting neuron. The reversal of charge is called an action potential .

Detailed explanation-2: -The depolarization, also called the rising phase, is caused when positively charged sodium ions (Na+) suddenly rush through open voltage-gated sodium channels into a neuron. As additional sodium rushes in, the membrane potential actually reverses its polarity.

Detailed explanation-3: -Neurotransmitters that act to open Na+ channels typically cause the membrane potential to become more positive, while neurotransmitters that activate K+ channels typically cause it to become more negative; those that inhibit these channels tend to have the opposite effect.

Detailed explanation-4: -An action potential propagates along the nerve fiber without decreasing or weakening of amplitude and length. In addition, after one action potential is generated, neurons become refractory to stimuli for a certain period of time in which they cannot generate another action potential.

Detailed explanation-5: -Action potentials (those electrical impulses that send signals around your body) are nothing more than a temporary shift (from negative to positive) in the neuron’s membrane potential caused by ions suddenly flowing in and out of the neuron.