Overview: Neuronal Coding

This page is meant to go with "OVERVIEW: Coding and Transmission of Information by Neurons" on your handout. (Also, a copy of the overview will appear when you start the animation below.)

Once you have read through the overview, follow the animation and ask yourself:

What type or types of ion channels are responsible for each phenomenon? In other words, what causes the channels to open?
Is each resulting change in potential graded or all-or-nothing?
What effect is responsible for creating the all-or-nothing property?
Does the resulting potential remain local or does it travel?
Why does a local potential remain local, and why does a travelling potential travel?
What potential change occurs next after the last event shown (that is, after neurotransmitter release), and what are its properties?

The animation will continue to cycle until you close the window.

START ANIMATION

Quick Quiz

	Fill in Answer	Correct	False	Correct Answer
What factor gates the ion channels in the sensory dendrites of an afferent neuron of a Meissner's corpuscle?
What factor gates the ion channels found in the axon of an afferent neuron?
Name the only kind of change in the membrane potential that is all-or-nothing.
Name a type of change in the membrane potential that varies in amplitude (graded).
What factor gates the ion channels that cause a postsynaptic potential?
What type of neuron is the only type that has a receptor potential?
What part of a neuron is the only location where a receptor potential is found?
Name a type of change in the membrane potential that does not travel (local).
	(Spelling must be correct)			OK, Go ahead and give me: