Module 5 Option A A neuroscientist is studying how nerve ce…
Module 5 Option A A neuroscientist is studying how nerve cells in the brain communicate during decision-making. She records activity from a neuron that receives multiple signals from different synapses. Some incoming signals make the neuron more likely to fire, while others make it less likely to fire. She notices that the neuron’s response depends on the total effect of all incoming signals over time. Explain how graded potentials contribute to neural communication. How do graded potentials differ from action potentials in terms of strength and signal transmission? Describe the role of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) at the synapse. How do these signals influence whether the neuron reaches the threshold to fire an action potential? How does summation determine whether the neuron will fire an action potential? Explain the difference between spatial summation and temporal summation, and how they affect the neuron’s overall response. How do neurotransmitters play a role in postsynaptic potentials? Provide an example of a neurotransmitter that produces an EPSP and one that produces an IPSP in the postsynaptic neuron. Option B A medical researcher is investigating how different medications affect communication between neurons. She conducts an experiment where she applies two different drugs to neurons in a brain sample: Drug A increases the release of a neurotransmitter that binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing a small local depolarization. Drug B enhances the release of a different neurotransmitter that makes the postsynaptic neuron more negative, reducing the chance of an action potential. After observing the effects, the researcher notices that when both drugs are present, the neuron’s overall response depends on the balance between the two signals. What type of electrical change occurs in the postsynaptic neuron when Drug A is applied? Identify whether this is an example of an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) or an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) and explain why. How does Drug B affect the postsynaptic neuron’s ability to fire an action potential? Does this represent an EPSP or an IPSP, and how does it impact the neuron’s likelihood of reaching the threshold? How do graded potentials contribute to the neuron’s overall response in this scenario? Explain how the combined effects of Drug A and Drug B demonstrate the concept of summation at the synapse. How do neurotransmitters influence postsynaptic potentials? Provide an example of a neurotransmitter that typically causes an EPSP and one that typically causes an IPSP.