Practice question · Sort into groups
Sort each statement by whether it describes the neuron at rest or during the action potential.
Groups: Resting neuron · During the action potential
- Positive ions rush in and the membrane briefly reverses to positive
- Inside is about -70 mV, negative relative to outside
- Voltage-gated channels snap open once threshold is crossed
- A charged battery waiting to discharge
Hints
- Rest is the steady, stable, negative baseline; the action potential is the brief, dramatic reversal.
- Anything involving channels snapping open or the membrane going positive is the firing event.
Show the answer
Resting neuron: Inside is about -70 mV, negative relative to outside, A charged battery waiting to discharge
During the action potential: Positive ions rush in and the membrane briefly reverses to positive, Voltage-gated channels snap open once threshold is crossed
Why
The steady -70 mV and the 'loaded battery' describe rest; the influx of positive ions and voltage-gated channels opening describe the firing event. Rest is a stable baseline; the action potential is the transient discharge.
Practise The Neuron and Action Potentials
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