PSYC 342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Resting Potential, Axon Hillock, Neurotransmitter

• School: University of San Diego
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 342
• Professor: Galvan

Document Summary

Electrostatic forces and concentration gradient act against each other. Electrostatic forces draw k+ in because the intracellular environment is negative. The concentration gradient pushes k+ out of the cell. Electrostatic forces and the concentration gradient balance each other. The equilibrium potential for k+ is -60 mv. Because the cell membrane is mostly permeable to k+ The resting membrane potential does not exactly match the k+ equilibrium potential. Resting membrane potential does not equal to the equilibrium potential for k+ The n+/k+pump prevents the inflow of too much na+ Pumps 3 na+ ions out for every 2 k+ ions in. Chemical neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic gap to dendrites/cell body of next cell. Nt is released into the synaptic gap. The nt binds to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane (of the next neuron) Electrical signals (graded potentials) in dendrites and cell body. If threshold is reached at the axon hillock, an action potential is triggered.