Below are a list of descriptions that apply to either post s

Below are a list of descriptions that apply to either post synaptic potentials (PSPs), action potentials (APs), both, or neither. Important terms that you should be able to define are bolded.

Identify PSP / AP / Both / Neither, and then defend your response for each description. In your defense, describe what the bolded terms mean.

For example:

These involve ion channels – both. To change the membrane potential, channels have to open to increase membrane permeability to small charged atom (like Na+, K+, or Cl-).

Descriptions:

These are graded

These are self-propagating

These are unidirectional

These do not involve K

These are in response to ligand gated ion channels

Solution

Please find the description below:

Post synaptic potential: Post synaptic potential is the change in membrane potential experienced by the neurons residing at the accepting-end or secondary end of the synpase which receives bio-chemical information from the generating-end or pre-synaptic neuron. This type of flow of information is uni-directional in nature and cannot be resversed. The post-synaptic potential generally does not invovle potassium ions and is largely dependent upon calcium, sodium and chloride ion concentrations. Also, they are also depedent upon lignad-gated ion channels since the post-synaptic neuronal membrane comprises of receptors at axon-head membrane which acquires the signalling molecules and internalize them to execute a biological function.

Action potential: Action potential can be defined as the change in membrane potential experienced by the neuron due to differences in intracellular and extracellular ionic concentrations of cations and anions in response to a stimulus/stress. The action potential is self-propagating in nature in a sense that movement of one cation inwards can directly influence movement of other cation outwards the neuron thus making is self-propagating in nature. In order to maintain action potential, various voltage gated ion channels open and close across the neuronal membranes thus help in traversing the information. At times, the action potential is graded up or down in response to changes in ionic strenght of different cations/anions, matrix conditions, nutritional status, alcohol consumption, physical damage to neurons, ingestion of neuroinhibitors etc.