Knowee
Questions
Features
Study Tools

A shift in the membrane potential to a value that is more negative than the resting membrane potential is referred to as a(n) .

Question

A shift in the membrane potential to a value that is more negative than the resting membrane potential is referred to as a(n) .

🧐 Not the exact question you are looking for?Go ask a question

Solution

A shift in the membrane potential to a value that is more negative than the resting membrane potential is referred to as hyperpolarization.

Here are the steps that explain this process:

  1. Resting Membrane Potential: In a resting neuron, the inside of the neuron is negative relative to the outside. This is due to the distribution of ions on either side of the membrane and the selective permeability of the membrane to different ions. This state is known as the resting membrane potential.

  2. Stimulus: When a neuron is stimulated, channels in the neuron's membrane open to allow positive ions to flow into the neuron.

  3. Hyperpolarization: If the stimulus is inhibitory, the neuron's membrane potential becomes more negative (it 'hyperpolarizes'), moving further from the threshold needed to trigger an action potential. This makes the neuron less likely to fire an action potential.

  4. Return to Resting Potential: After the stimulus ends, the neuron returns to its resting membrane potential.

So, in summary, a shift in the membrane potential to a value that is more negative than the resting membrane potential is referred to as hyperpolarization. This is a mechanism that inhibits the neuron from firing an action potential.

This problem has been solved

Similar Questions

shift in the membrane potential towards a less negative value is called a Blank______.Multiple choice question.depolarizationhyperpolarizationrepolarization

Which of the following describes a change from the resting membrane potential?an action potentiala receptor potential, a synaptic potential or an action potentiala receptor potentiala synaptic potential

A(n) potential is the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down an axon.

When depolarization occurs, the resting membrane potential becomes ______ negative and ______ 0mV.Multiple choice question.more; closer toless; closer tomore; further fromless; further from

n repolarization, the membrane potential Blank______.Multiple choice question.returns to a hyperpolarized levelreaches thresholdreturns to resting membrane potentia

1/3

Upgrade your grade with Knowee

Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.