Action Potential Lab Report

Neurons are one of the most important cells in living animals. There are billions of neurons throughout our bodies, especially the brain which is the control house of the body. Neurons are what help us see, hear, taste, and feel sensation. This is all do to a critical phenomenon known as action potential. Action potential is caused by a change in various ions, specifically sodium and potassium. When the neuron is in a resting state with -70mV, there is a great amount of potassium ions inside the cell, and a plethora of sodium ions outside the cell. For something to initiate an action potential, there must be a certain stimulus or impulse. This stimulus would cause voltage-gated sodium channels to open. As sodium flows into the neuron, it must …show more content…
When this sodium reaches the terminal buttons, calcium enters the cell and causing vesicles to bind to the cell wall and release the content that is present, usually a neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter will now go to a different neuron, and incite an action potential. This whole process occurs all the time will billions of neurons. It is an exceedingly complex system that is vital for the survival of species. What if the sodium channels were blocked when there is an impulse or stimulus present. In this lab experiment, we will find out how two chemicals, Lidocaine and TTX, affect sodium channels and action potentials. Both of these chemicals bind to sodium channels, and prevent sodium from entering the neuron and provoking an action potential. This lab experiment will contain a neuron with two electrodes applied in two places. These electrodes will be used to record action potentials in these two places. I hypothesize that if Lidocaine is applied to the neuron, than there will be fewer action potentials. However, because TTX is a strong toxin. If it was applied to the neuron, than there would be much fewer action potentials compared to lidocaines