Lab Exercises

• On conduction of the action potential in a partially demyelinated axon (A. Stuart)

  This lab follows a series of lectures on the ionic basis of the action potential. It is an abbreviated version of the Partial Demyelination tutorial and is designed to test the student's knowledge of the ions flowing during the action potential and how the impulse travels. The students do a manipulation, as instructed on their PowerPoint handout, and then answer a question (see accompaying Word document for questions and the answers). I print out the PowerPoint file as 6 slides per page and also hand out the printed-out questions (without the answers of course). The students can do this exercise in an hour.

• For the beginning neurobiology student (S. Barry, Mt. Holyoke College) based on NIA Version 1.
  • Resting potential
  • Passive axon
    • Part I: The axon length (or space) constant
    • Part II: How does changing axon membrane resistance affect the length constant?
  • Action potential
    • Part I - Ion currents during an action potential
    • Part II - Action potential threshold
    • Part III - Refractory period following an action potential
  • Propagation of action potentials
    • Part I - Unmyelinated Axon
    • Part II - Myelinated Axon
    • Part III - Partial Demyelination