The Resting Potential<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t- A neuron\u2019s membrane<\/strong> separates the inside (intracellular fluid<\/strong>) from the outside (extracellular fluid<\/strong>) environment.<\/li>\r\n\t
- These fluids have different electrical charges, creating an electrical imbalance across the membrane.<\/li>\r\n\t
- When the neuron is not sending a signal, it is in a resting potential<\/strong>\u2014a state of readiness like a stretched rubber band waiting to release.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Ions<\/strong>, or electrically charged atoms, line up on either side of the membrane:\r\n\r\n
\r\n\t- Sodium (Na\u207a)<\/strong> ions are more concentrated outside the cell.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Potassium (K\u207a)<\/strong> ions and negatively charged proteins<\/strong> are more concentrated inside<\/strong> the cell.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
- This charge difference allows the neuron to respond quickly when activated.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\r\nWatch this short video on membrane potential, and why the resting potential of a neuron is negative:<\/p>\r\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tIzF2tWy6KI<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Sodium (Na\u207a)<\/strong> ions are more concentrated outside the cell.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Potassium (K\u207a)<\/strong> ions and negatively charged proteins<\/strong> are more concentrated inside<\/strong> the cell.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
- This charge difference allows the neuron to respond quickly when activated.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\r\n Watch this short video on membrane potential, and why the resting potential of a neuron is negative:<\/p>\r\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tIzF2tWy6KI<\/p>\r\n
- Potassium (K\u207a)<\/strong> ions and negatively charged proteins<\/strong> are more concentrated inside<\/strong> the cell.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
![\"A](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/902\/2015\/02\/23224546\/CNX_Psych_03_02_NaKConc.jpg\")
Figure 1<\/strong>. At resting potential, Na+<\/sup> (blue pentagons) is more highly concentrated outside the cell in the extracellular fluid (shown in blue), whereas K+<\/sup> (purple squares) is more highly concentrated near the membrane in the cytoplasm or intracellular fluid. Other molecules, such as chloride ions (yellow circles) and negatively charged proteins (brown squares), help contribute to a positive net charge in the extracellular fluid and a negative net charge in the intracellular fluid.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5837\/2022\/09\/06155025\/5702a778859ad92103597c3eae5b473b388b3791.jpeg\")
Figure 2<\/strong>. Reuptake involves moving a neurotransmitter from the synapse back into the axon terminal from which it was released.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n