Which of these statements describes the refractory period
A)It refers to the time period that promotes the spread of action potentials forward and backward.
B)It refers to the time period when a recently activated patch of membrane is unresponsive to further stimulation.
C)It places a lower limit on the frequency with which a neuron cannot conduct action potentials.
D)It refers to the time period when the magnitude of potential change varies with the magnitude of the triggering event.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The refractory period is a period of time following an action potential during which a neuron is unresponsive to further stimulation. This is due to the fact that the voltage-gated ion channels that allow for the generation of an action potential are in a temporarily inactive state. This refractory period places a limit on the frequency at which neurons can generate action potentials. Therefore, choice B best describes the refractory period.

Which of These Statements Describes the Refractory Period