10-Minute Neuroscience: Action Potentials

In this video, I cover the basics of the action potential beginning with an explanation of membrane potential and how it sets the stage for the action potential. Then, I describe how an action potential is generated and how it ends. I cover the propagation of an action potential down the axon and the role myelin plays in this process. Finally, I discuss the absolute and relative refractory periods and what they mean for repeated action potential firing.
Key points:
00:00 Introduction
0:17 Membrane potential
4:18 Action potential
7:20 Propagation down the axon and role of myelin
8:51 Absolute and relative refractory periods
REFERENCES:
Bean BP, Koester JD. 2021. Propagated Signaling: The Action Potential. In: Kandel ER, Koester JD, Mack SH, Siegelbaum SA, eds. Principles of Neural Science, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Koester JD, Siegelbaum SA. 2021. Membrane Potential and the Passive Electrical Properties of the Neuron. In: Kandel ER, Koester JD, Mack SH, Siegelbaum SA, eds. Principles of Neural Science, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Pinel JPJ. 2014. Biopsychology. 9th ed. New York: Pearson.

[@nicholash3849]

im quitre surprised how much accurate information you can relay in 10 minutes. good work

[@craftyandcreative4852]

So fabulous. Better than multiple lectures ...

[@Hannah-zd5je]

My professor showed us one of your videos during a lecture and I am so glad he did, because your explanations are amazing and are helping me a lot with studying. Thank you!

[@theonlykiloe8620]

bro's carrying my grades hard, keep up the good work and thanks for making neurology easy to understand!

[@aamirrazak3467]

Thank you for continuing this series of videos, it’s great to review neuroscience and learn more about it!

[@philocaLYY]

I remember watching your videos for my undergrad finals and here i am again watching them for my masters. Wish we had profs like yourself who explain concepts so well! Thanks for uploading these awesome videos!

[@andrewwmitchell]

I knew a bit about this but now I understand it better than ever. I was fascinated and you explained it extremely clearly.

[@devorakohl470]

Thank you so much! I've just listened to multiple videos of yours in a row... You take a complicated topic and break it down clearly and simply, in such an organized manner! Fantastic content! Keep up the great work!

[@williamschmid5595]

I am planing to study neuro-science next year, and I was looking for some videos about this topic. I am glad you made a channel

[@ericamilaneze994]

Great video, it presents with a clear explanation the essential information about the action potential. Thank you!

[@LA-cm9uo]

Thanks you're an angel in human form!

[@misastrejckova5389]

perfect explanation! Thank you so much! It is so clear now😍

[@shitbag.]

I love that you're sharing this. It's disappointing when people don't realize knowledge is free Much respect man.

[@shitbag.]

Not physically free

[@ruben958]

Gracias a tí, por hacer este magnífico video.

[@meghabohra0111]

Thank you so much sir for this wonderful explanation!

[@stephenkim4570]

This explanation is amazing. Thank you so much.

[@ellakelley2815]

Thank you so much, I've been struggling to understand how neurons work for about 3 weeks now and I finally understand.

[@AccomplishcreativeEducation.]

Thank you very much sir for great concept learning 🙏

[@user-bw5xj8lh8g]

Beautiful explanation and diagrams

[@nevaehburlock3810]

Great video! Saved me the day before my diploma!

[@pinklive8065]

Wow… you are the best❤❤❤

[@kadijahsesay8207]

Why couldn’t my prof just say this instead of making me watch 10 recordings

[@MoreTrenMoreMen69]

yeah i feel like some professors just make concepts more of a pain to learn on purpose lol

[@Ailurophile900]

Vuz your prof is indoctrinated. Hopefully the answers to the test arent equality and diversity 😂

[@vikashchaitram]

Awesome video, love the content. I first found you from the Schizophrenia video, always excited when I see another video posted.

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Thank you I appreciate the support!

[@World-Sojourner.22]

Most excellent!

[@suneetsharma907]

I am in class 11 in india and the video was very usefull. Thank you sir

[@mara3105]

thank you so much for this!

[@keithcorodimas8093]

Thanks. I use your vids in my behavioral neuroscience undergraduate class.

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

That’s great to hear! I’m glad they’re useful!

[@thedarklord218]

Amazing video

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Thanks!

[@Aleyna-xq7qu]

Thank you for lecture

[@tebellomekeleli5314]

I think my professor would love that t-shirt

[@mochi-fc7nw]

thank you so much😭😭😭😭

[@cayanlamanna]

Does charge travels faster or slower in the myelinated regions?

[@Ryan88881]

Pharmaceutical wise.. so does this pretty much only apply to stimulants? Also can you do a explanation on synaptic gating

[@babybirdorange]

great video . I'm trying to understand how a segment of the spinal cord becomes "facilitated" or more easily stimulated, and the output of pain goes up. Is this a problem in a part of the brain or is it a chemical issue with sodium, diffusion ? Anything I should specifically search for in the videos to watch? Thank you !

[@arturgrygierczyk5636]

Really good video. I have however a question: what is the relation between the membrane potential and the gates/channels opening or closing? Meaning, how and why do the gates/channels know when to open up or close in order for a succesful depolarisation, repolarisation, and hyperpolarisation to occur?

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

The sodium and potassium channels that open and close during the action potential are voltage-gated channels, meaning they open and close in response to changes in membrane potential. For example, sodium channels open at threshold and close when the membrane potential reaches somewhere around +30 to +40 mV. So the flow of ions during the action potential process changes membrane potential and prompts the opening and closing of these channels.

[@arturgrygierczyk5636]

@@Neuroscientificallychallenged thank you very much for your response!

[@user-qw6wu2hz3k]

HI thankyou so much for the vidoe could understand it reALLY well can you provide notes also for this

[@Error-kr8ty]

Very nicely explained. I have one question: where do the chloride ions (-1) fit into the 3:2 ratio of potassium and sodium?

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

Chloride ions don't play a role in the function of the sodium potassium pump. The actions of the pump help to establish membrane potential, which is both influenced by movement of chloride ions and influences the movement of chloride ions. But the 3:2 ratio of the pump is independent of chloride ion activity.

[@Error-kr8ty]

@@Neuroscientificallychallenged Okay, so there isn't any bond potential or attraction from the Cl- ions? Do they just exist inside and outside the neurons?

[@alexsheremett3097]

❤ Great

[@asmaamohammad1999]

Hello, Thank you for your simply complex videos for neuroscience! I've got a question about how diffusion and electrostatic work. so there are various kinds of pumps. Do electrostatic force and diffusion require energy? or do they flow spontaneously? thankyou!

[@asmaamohammad1999]

Another question. Let's take a scenario: I thought of walking, walking requires me to physically move my legs. When I think to decide walking, and before I physically walk, what happens? Do these neurons activate and cause an action potential although I didn't physically move? and then if I moved, the cycle of neurons in action potential would continue until I stopped walking right?

[@michaelwuenscher4990]

Energy is not required when a substance is moving from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

[@kadijahsesay8207]

Bruh just did my 5 hours lecture in 10 mins 😩

[@drkdrk7]

How and due to what is a negative charge formed inside the cell? Not a single word is said about chlorine anions.

[@AndersOland]

Why is there no mention at all of negatively charged ions? That is confusing. Otherwise, great video!

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

The main subject of the video was action potentials, and it's not necessary to bring in the concept of negatively charged ions to explain action potentials. I'm trying to explain the basics, so to me any unnecessary concept can potentially make things more confusing. I'm not the only one to take this approach, though---plenty of introductory texts explain action potentials without referring to negatively charged ions.

[@gradhd4359]

Where did you get the t shirt , thx

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

My wife made it for me 😊

[@gradhd4359]

@@Neuroscientificallychallenged love it ,great content, have a great day Graeme.

[@ThePhilosopher33]

Where did you get your shirt from

[@Neuroscientificallychallenged]

I sell it in my store! neurochallenged.myshopify.com/products/equation-t-shirt

[@wubwub616]

it's 5 minute neuroscience for me B)

[@Gangster_God]

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