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Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...

Resting Potential Decay

Resting Potential Decay

The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the membrane is slightly permeable to ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) and highly permeable to potassium ions (K+). Differences in the ions' concentration inside the cell compared to the outside are maintained by membrane transport proteins like channels and pumps.
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane through...

Resting Potential Decay

Resting Potential Decay

The resting membrane potential of a neuron (-70mV) is sustained due to the selective ion permeability of the membrane. At the resting potential, the membrane is slightly permeable to ions like sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) and highly permeable to potassium ions (K+). Differences in the ions' concentration inside the cell compared to the outside are maintained by membrane transport proteins like channels and pumps.
At rest, the K+ is the main ion that moves across the membrane through...

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...

Action Potentials

Action Potentials

Propagation of Action Potentials

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Contribution of the Na+/K+ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses

Contribution of the Na⁺/K⁺ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses

Published on: May 9, 2021

Slow variable dominance and phase resetting in phantom bursting.

Margaret Watts¹, Joel Tabak, Charles Zimliki

¹Department of Mathematics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

|February 15, 2011

Summary

Researchers developed a "dominance factor" to analyze phantom bursting, a neuronal oscillation pattern. This tool helps understand how model parameters control burst timing and predict cell resetting properties.

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Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Contribution of the Na+/K+ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses

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A Simple Stimulatory Device for Evoking Point-like Tactile Stimuli: A Searchlight for LFP to Spike Transitions

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Published on: March 25, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Computational Biology
Endocrinology

Background:

Bursting oscillations are prevalent in neurons and endocrine cells.
Phantom bursting models, characterized by two slow variables, exhibit burst periods influenced by the time constants of these variables.
These models can generate bursting across a spectrum of periods, from fast to slow.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and define the 'dominance factor' for quantifying the contributions of slow variables in phantom bursting.
To demonstrate how altering model parameters can shift control between slow variables across different burst phases.
To explore the utility of dominance curves in predicting model cell resetting properties.

Main Methods:

Development of the 'dominance factor' measure.
Analysis of a simple phantom bursting model.
Parameter variation to observe shifts in slow variable control.
Investigation of resetting properties using dominance curves.

Main Results:

The dominance factor quantifies the relative influence of two slow variables on bursting.
Model parameters can be adjusted to shift control of burst phases between the slow variables.
Dominance curves effectively predict model cell resetting behavior.
Two mechanisms for achieving phase-independent resetting were identified.

Conclusions:

The dominance factor is a valuable tool for analyzing phantom bursting dynamics.
Understanding slow variable contributions offers insights into burst period control and resetting.
The findings have implications for understanding electrical activity in systems like pancreatic islets.