Explore the Biological Bases of Behavior Test. Prepare with engaging flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring explanations. Start practicing today!

Multiple Choice

Period after firing, during which the neuron is unable to fire because it is repolarizing?

After firing, a neuron undergoes repolarization as potassium ions leave the cell and the membrane potential returns toward its resting value. During this time, the neuron cannot fire again, which is called the refractory period. This period actually has two parts: an absolute refractory period, when no stimulus can trigger another action potential because the voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated, and a relative refractory period, when a stronger-than-normal stimulus might trigger a second spike but it’s more difficult to do so. The other terms aren’t about this immediate recovery phase: the threshold is simply the level of depolarization needed to start an action potential, and the endocrine system and hormones refer to chemical signaling between glands and tissues, not the neuron’s rapid post-fire recovery.

After firing, a neuron undergoes repolarization as potassium ions leave the cell and the membrane potential returns toward its resting value. During this time, the neuron cannot fire again, which is called the refractory period. This period actually has two parts: an absolute refractory period, when no stimulus can trigger another action potential because the voltage-gated sodium channels are inactivated, and a relative refractory period, when a stronger-than-normal stimulus might trigger a second spike but it’s more difficult to do so. The other terms aren’t about this immediate recovery phase: the threshold is simply the level of depolarization needed to start an action potential, and the endocrine system and hormones refer to chemical signaling between glands and tissues, not the neuron’s rapid post-fire recovery.