Neurophysiology Lab Report

Neurophysiology Lab Report

Anatomy & Physiology Lab Report
Exercise 3 Activities 1-4, 8

By
Laurence Blake

2/27/12

A. Objective

I. Activity 1-4: Eliciting a Nerve Impulse
• Investigate what kinds of stimuli stimulate action potential.

II. Activity 8: Nerve Conduction Velocity
• Determine and compare the conduction velocities of different types of nerves.

B. Introduction

I. Activity 1-4: Eliciting a Nerve Impulse
• In this experiment, we will be investigating what stimulates action potential on the nerve being tested on the oscillator. The factors that helped determine action potential are voltage, single stimulus, Hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride, the glass rod, and heat.

II. Activity 8: Nerve Conduction Velocity
• In this activity, we will be investigating action potential like in activities 1-4, and the nerve conduction velocity. We will test an earthworm nerve, frog nerve, and two rat nerves on the oscillator. The factors that helped determine action potential were the Bio-amplifier, stimulator, ethanol, and voltage.

C. Materials
• PhysioEx CD-Rom, computer, lab manual.

D. Methods

I. Activity 1 Eliciting (Generating) a Nerve Impulse
1. Set Voltage at 1.0V.
2. Click Single stimulus on the oscilloscope.
Do you see any kind of response on the oscilloscope screen? (Red flat line appears on screen.)

• If no response, or a flat line occurs, it indicates there is no action potential. Click the clear button, and increase the voltage and click single stimulus until you see a trace that indicates action potential.

• Threshold Voltage= 3.0 Action Potential: Yes.
3. Print graph if desired.
4. Increase voltage by 0.5V and click single stimulus.

• Is there a difference between the two tracings? (The 3.5V tracing is a little bit higher than the 3.0V tracing.)
• What reason can you give for the change? (The second tracing had a higher threshold voltage.)
• Record Data

5. Continue