The Action Potential
Objective 5
Construct a model of the action potential.
This trace shows the characteristic shape of the action potential.
Time is shown on the X-axis (abscissa, horizontal axis). Because the potential changes dynamically over time, taking up exactly the same time, we call it an action potential to distinguish it from graded potentials that have neither a characteristic shape nor time period.
Remember that the word “potential” means the same thing as “voltage”. Voltage in millivolts (mV) is shown on the Y-axis (ordinate, vertical axis).
Here is the same voltage trace, but labeled so we can examine each part of the complicated waveform separately. In order:
- The neuron holds a resting potential. In this example, the resting potential is –70 mV.
- A stimulus is applied. This can be input from another neuron, from the environment, or from a scientist studying the action potential. The stimulus is small, upward (more positive) deflection in voltage.
- If the stimulus reaches threshold, there is a rapid upward (positive) deflection in membrane voltage. In this example, threshold is –55 mV.
- After a peak at about a half a millisecond, the voltage starts to drop (become more negative) as rapidly as it rose.
- At the end of the action potential, the neuron’s membrane potential goes past the resting potential. This phase is called the afterhyperpolarization or more simply, the overshoot.
- The neuron returns to resting potential.
Step 1: The Resting Potential
We’ve already seen, in Objective 3, how the resting potential is established. Recall that the resting potential (negative voltage, about –60 to –80 mV) depends mostly on the leakage potassium and leakage sodium channels, with a smaller contribution from transporter and pump systems.
Step 2: Stimulus Applied; Rise to Threshold
We will see, in Objectives 8-12, how neurons are activated. If the activation reaches a magical value called threshold, the process becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, and an action potential results. Like everything else, the exact value of threshold varies but it’s typically about 10 or 20 mV above resting potential. It’s the value at which enough voltage-gated sodium channels are in an activated state that the membrane voltage rapidly rises (depolarizes) toward the sodium equlibrium potential.
You will recognize this from Unit 1 as a positive feedback loop: once a sufficient number of voltage-gated sodium channels are opened, sodium rushes into the neuron and makes it more positive inside, which opens more voltage-gated sodium channels, which allows more sodium to rush into the neuron, making it more positive. This is only stopped by either inactivation or by reaching the equilibrium potential for sodium.
Step 3: The Rising Phase
In the rising phase, a significant number of voltage-gated sodium channels are in the activated (open) state. Now sodium rushes in, and the membrane potential rises rapidly, reaching a value that is positive inside, sometim