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Related Concept Videos

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

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...
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles01:24

Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles

Every cell in the body maintains a membrane potential due to an uneven distribution of positive and negative charges across its plasma membrane. The membrane potential is measured in millivolts and quantifies the difference in charge across the membrane.
Like neurons, muscle cells are also regarded as excitable due to their capacity to change in response to stimuli, primarily due to voltage-gated ion channels embedded in their plasma membranes, which get activated by alterations in the cell's...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
08:08

Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond

Published on: June 24, 2015

A sodium-pump-mediated afterhyperpolarization in pyramidal neurons.

Allan T Gulledge1, Sameera Dasari, Keita Onoue

  • 1Department of Physiology and Neurobiology and Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. allan.gulledge@dartmouth.edu

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|August 9, 2013
PubMed
Summary

The sodium-potassium ATPase (sodium pump) regulates neuronal excitability by generating long-lasting afterhyperpolarizations. This finding reveals a new role for the sodium pump in controlling brain cell activity.

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Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
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Contribution of the Na+/K+ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses
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Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
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Contribution of the Na+/K+ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses
08:34

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

Published on: May 9, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Physiology

Background:

  • The sodium-potassium ATPase (sodium pump) is crucial for cellular ionic homeostasis.
  • Its role in regulating neuronal excitability is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological role of the sodium pump in regulating the excitability of mouse neocortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
  • To determine if the sodium pump contributes to activity-dependent neuronal responses.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings in mouse neocortical layer 5 and hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.
  • Pharmacological blockade of ion channels and transporters (tetrodotoxin, ouabain).
  • Manipulation of intracellular ion concentrations and temperature.

Main Results:

  • Trains of action potentials induced long-lasting afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) dependent on sodium-potassium ATPase activity.
  • These AHPs were independent of intracellular calcium transients.
  • A simulated 'place cell train' also induced sodium pump-dependent AHPs, reducing neuronal excitability.

Conclusions:

  • The sodium-potassium ATPase plays a significant role in regulating neuronal excitability in the neocortex and hippocampus.
  • Activity-induced AHPs are primarily mediated by the sodium pump, not intracellular calcium, at physiological temperatures.
  • This uncovers a novel mechanism for controlling neuronal firing patterns.