Question

For the next three questions, please consider the three experimental neuronal action potentials taken from neurons in the same general region of the brain. The neurons are all bathed in different solutions. The unlabeled Y-axis is voltage and durations of each action potential are marked below them.

Action potential C and action potential A reach about the same spike height but action potential C is showing a much longer duration. What could be going on with the solution that action potential C is in?
1) action potential C has more leak potassium channels than action potential A
2) action potential C is experiencing hyperkalemia
3) action potential C has more sodium flowing in after the peak, which slows repolarization
4) action potential C is less excitable than action potential A
5) none of the above describe action potential C

Answer 1

Action potential C has more sodium flowing in after the peak, which slows repolarization and leads to a longer duration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Action potential C has more sodium flowing in after the peak, which slows repolarization. This leads to a longer duration of the action potential. The other options are not accurate descriptions of what is happening in action potential C.