I keep getting “Nerve impulse” questions wrong in Neural Control and Coordination. What's the trap?
thinking sodium is more concentrated inside the neuron at rest.
The usual trap: thinking sodium is more concentrated inside the neuron at rest. How to avoid it: rest = Na+ out and K+ in; the impulse is Na+ flooding inward. Go back to the definition — at rest the membrane is polarised with more sodium outside; a stimulus lets sodium rush in (depolarisation), generating the impulse.
Key point
Nerve impulse
Common mistake
thinking sodium is more concentrated inside the neuron at rest.
Memory tip
rest = Na+ out and K+ in; the impulse is Na+ flooding inward.
Tap to watch or see it right here — the app stays open (it only opens a quick search if nothing embeddable is found).