Your body has designed a traffic signal for action potentials traveling from one neuron to another. In this system, the red light represents _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inhibitory neurotransmitters work to prevent an action potential from being generated in the postsynaptic neuron. This can be thought of as a red light or stop signal, as it halts the transmission of the signal from one neuron to the next. Excitatory neurotransmitters, on the other hand, act as green lights, promoting the generation of an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. The combination of these neurotransmitters can result in a complex interplay between inhibition and excitation, which leads to the nuanced neural activity necessary for proper brain function. However, in the simplified traffic signal analogy, the red light would represent inhibition. The option D is incorrect as action potentials do have an end and only last for a short period.

Your Body Has Designed a Traffic Signal for Action Potentials