lOMoARcPSD|39932195

BIOL2230 Action Potential Lab Report

Name:
Student
Number:

Q1. In Excel (or similar), plot a labelled scatterplot graph of mean RMS volume
difference (the proxy for your neural response) against distance (in cm) over the
range of distances at which you provided a puff stimulus using the syringe. You
may connect your points with a line if you choose to do so, but do not fit a curve to
your data. Decide which is your X axis and which is your Y axis. Label your axes
remembering to give units. Give your graph an appropriate title. Copy your graph
(directly or using the PrtScn function) and paste it here (as an image) [5 marks].

Q2. Interpret the results you obtained in terms of stimulus strength, rate coding and
the relative refractory period. Did your data show the relationship you expected? If
not, why might that have been? Illustrate your answer with images of the
recordings taken from your preparation [4 marks]
Overall a more intense stimulus strength did consistently yield an increased spike in decibels. This was in
line with what was expected and is demonstrated by the above graph which increasingly descends
downwards the further away the stimulus was applied. However, there were exceptions to this rule which
were unexpected. At approximately 63 seconds there is a massive spike which was caused by one of our
group members accidentally bumping the table. As we did not have a faraday cage this resulted in an
abnormally high decibel reading. This is shown by the unusually high spike in our graph at the 1cm distance
increment. The image below shows a spike at approximately 39 seconds. This when our stimulus was
applied to the cricket’s legs. There is then a subsequent relative refractory period after this stimulation which
can be seen by small spontaneous discharge afterwards. Even during this time, the cricket is still able to
produce action potentials but only if an intense enough stimulus is applied which is in line with the
relationship we expected.

Downloaded by Hero HWServices (xZrPXz9PgI@yahoo.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|39932195

Q3. In this experimental set-up, we specified a sampling rate (project rate) of 44100
Hz. What would be the consequences for our electrophysiological measurements
of spiking activity if we had used a much slower sampling rate and why? [2 mark]
The minimum sampling rate is determined by the Nyquist Shannon sampling theorem. This theory posits
that the minimum sampling rate must be at least double the frequency of the highest frequency in our signal
of interest. Hence, if we did decide to use a slower sampling rate this would cause aliasing. Aliasing is where
different signals crossover resulting in the appearance of a false signal.

Q4. Consider the traces you recorded from the cricket leg. Give some different
reasons why the spikes you observed in the recordings have different amplitudes,
especially when the strength of the stimulus changed, even though an action
potential is supposed to have a more-or-less constant amplitude as it travels along
an axon. [4 marks]
Spikes have varying amplitudes for multiple reasons. The first is due to the principle of somatotopy. This
theory posits that an identical stimulus may elicit a different response depending on which section of body is
stimulated. For example, the tibia is a more sensitive area on the cricket leg than the femur, hence an
identical stimulus applied to each area will elicit a greater response from the tibia compared to the femur due
to the number of units active in each area. Although the spiking size of a neuron does actually depend on the
distance the stimulus was applied from this principle means that identical stimulation on certain body areas
may produce different outputs. It should also be noted that an extracellular recording is summation of
activity multiple neurons referred to as a compound action potential. This also means our signal can be
affected by surrounding noise hence why differing amplitudes may be present in our recording.

Q5. Reflect on the ethics of using crickets in a practical class. Is it justifiable? [1

mark]
The use of crickets in practicals are justifiable in this experiment. This is because the crickets were
specifically bred to be lizard food and the crickets are anaesthetised meaning they feel no pain before they
die (Dagda et al., 2013).

Q6. Why does a Faraday cage around your preparation reduce noise in your
recordings? [1 mark]
Due to the fact a faraday cage is composed metal plates, this allows it to shield our recording from external
electrical fields thus, reduce overall noise.

Q7. You are recording from mechanosensory neurons in the cricket leg. Why do these
signal with action potentials rather than graded potentials? [3 marks]
Mechanosensory neurons signal with action potentials rather than graded potentials for the following
reasons. The first is that action potentials can travel long distances due to the fact that they are regenerative.
This is important as cricket legs are long meaning graded potentials would simply diffuse after travelling
only mere millimetres in distance. Thus, this makes action potentials a reliable mechanism of transport
neural signals from body to brain. This is important as cricket cerci ganglion play a crucial role in
integrating both wind speed and direction which allows them to effectively evade predation (Insausti et al.,
2008).

Downloaded by Hero HWServices (xZrPXz9PgI@yahoo.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|39932195

References:

Dagda, R., Thalhauser, R., Dagda, R., Marzullo, T., & Gage, G. (2013). Using crickets to introduce

neurophysiology to early undergraduate students. Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience

Education, 12 (1), A66–A74.

Insausti, T., Lazzari, C., & Casas, J. (2008). The terminal abdominal ganglion of the wood cricket Nemobius

sylvestris. Journal of Morphology (1931), 269(12), 1539–1551. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10672

Downloaded by Hero HWServices (xZrPXz9PgI@yahoo.com)