The physiological experiment's data suggests that the stimulus is inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization. This is consistent with the observed slow hyperpolarization in the voltage trace.
The correct answer is option B) "The stimulus is inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization."
Step-by-step explanation:
In physiological experiments, the response of a cell or membrane to a stimulus is often observed through changes in voltage. The provided information mentions a stimulus with a magnitude of -0.15 A m⁻² lasting from 0.5 to 3.5 milliseconds. The key observation in the voltage trace is a slow hyperpolarization.
Hyperpolarization refers to a change in the membrane potential in which the inside of the cell becomes more negative than the resting potential. This typically occurs in response to inhibitory stimuli, making option B the correct answer.
In contrast, excitatory stimuli lead to depolarization, where the membrane potential becomes more positive. Action potentials are characterized by rapid depolarization followed by repolarization and are not necessarily reflected in a slow hyperpolarization.
Option D, stating that the stimulus has no effect on membrane potential, is contradicted by the observed hyperpolarization, making it an incorrect inference.
To summarize, the data indicates that the stimulus is inhibitory, leading to hyperpolarization of the membrane potential. This inference aligns with the physiological response commonly observed in inhibitory stimuli in cellular experiments.