resting potential

Examples of resting potential in the following topics:

• Stages of the Action Potential

  • "Resting potential" is the name for the electrical state when a neuron is not actively being signaled.
  • A neuron at resting potential has a membrane with established amounts of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions on either side, leaving the inside of the neuron negatively charged relative to the outside.
  • In order for a neuron to move from resting potential to action potential—a short-term electrical change that allows an electrical signal to be passed from one neuron to another—the neuron must be stimulated by pressure, electricity, chemicals, or another form of stimuli.
  • The sodium gates cannot be opened again until the membrane is repolarized to its normal resting potential.
  • Therefore, the neuron cannot reach action potential during this "rest period."

• Mechanics of the Action Potential

  • Resting potential.
  • The membrane of a neuron is normally at rest with established concentrations of sodium ions (Na+) and potassium ions (K+) on either side.
  • Eventually, the cell potential reaches +40 mV, or the action potential.
  • The sodium gates cannot be opened again until the membrane has completely repolarized to its normal resting potential, -70 mV.
  • Some of it escapes, but the rest of it binds to chemical receptor molecules located on the membrane of the postsynaptic cell.

• Introduction to Anxiety Disorders

  • Such sensory information is processed by the amygdala, which communicates information about potential threats to the rest of the brain.

• Arousal Theory of Motivation

  • Arousal theory expands upon drive-reduction theory by considering levels of arousal as potential motivators.
  • Arousal theory expands upon drive-reduction theory by taking into account levels of arousal as potential motivators.
  • Think about how much stress students experience toward the end of spring semester—they feel overwhelmed with work and yearn for the rest and relaxation of summer break.

• The Limbic System

  • It helps the brain recognize potential threats and helps prepare the body for fight-or-flight reactions by increasing heart and breathing rate.
  • The thalamus, which is a sensory "way-station" for the rest of the brain, is primarily important due to its connections with other limbic-system structures.
  • The basal ganglia appears to serve as a gating mechanism for physical movements, inhibiting potential movements until they are fully appropriate for the circumstances in which they are to be executed.

• Standardized Tests

  • That said, several widely used standardized tests have also come under heavy criticism for potentially not actually evaluating the skills they say they test for.
  • Standardized test scores are evaluated in two ways: relative to a specific scale or criterion ("criterion-referenced") or relative to the rest of the test-takers ("norm-referenced").

• Conformity

  • For instance, if Susan lands a really prestigious, high-paying job, she is more likely to be offered similarly high-paying jobs in the future because potential employers will be influenced by their peers' previous decisions about her.
  • Unanimity—individuals are more likely to conform to group decisions when the rest of the group's response is unanimous.

• Biology of Emotion

  • The amygdala plays a decisive role in the emotional evaluation and recognition of situations as well as in the analysis of potential threats.
  • Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system (PN) functions when the body is relaxed or at rest; it helps the body store energy for future use.

• The Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • It regulates motor function and allows motor and sensory information to pass from the brain to the rest of the body.
  • Spinal nerves originate from the spinal cord and control the functions of the rest of the body.
  • Impulses are sent from receptors through the spinal cord to the brain, where they are processed and synthesized into instructions for the rest of the body.

• Habituation, Sensitization, and Potentiation

  • Potentiation, habituation, and sensitization are three ways in which stimuli in the environment produce changes in the nervous system.
  • Three ways in which this occurs include long-term potentiation, habituation, and sensitization.
  • One way that the nervous system changes is through potentiation, or the strengthening of the nerve synapses (the gaps between neurons).
  • Long-term potentiation (LTP) is the persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity: it occurs when a neuron shows an increased excitability over time due to a repeated pattern, behavior, or response.