What is the difference between absolute and relative refractory periods?

What is the difference between absolute and relative refractory periods?

Absolute: Is the period of time during which a second action potential ABSOLUTELY cannot be initiated, no matter how large the applied stimulus is. Relative: Is the interval immediately following the Absolute Refractory Period during which initiation of a second action potential is INHIBITED, but not impossible.

What is the relative refractory period?

The relative refractory period is the interval of time during which a second action potential can be initiated, but initiation will require a greater stimulus than before. Refractory periods are caused by the inactivation gate of the Na+ channel.

Why is it called the relative refractory period?

The cell membrane cannot immediately produce a second AP. As voltage-gated Na+ channels transition from the inactivated to the closed state (i.e., they become capable of being activated), the membrane becomes capable of supporting a 2nd action potential – this period is called the RELATIVE REFRACTORY PERIOD.

What happens after the refractory period?

The period when the majority of sodium channels remain in the inactive state is the absolute refractory period. After this period, there are enough voltage-activated sodium channels in the closed (active) state to respond to depolarization.

What happens after absolute refractory period?

What occurs during the refractory period psychology?

The term psychological refractory period (PRP) refers to the period of time during which the response to a second stimulus is significantly slowed because a first stimulus is still being processed.

When does absolute refractory period occur?

The absolute refractory period refers to that period of time after an action potential when it is impossible to initiate a new action potential no matter how large the stimulus. This is a relatively short period of time that varies from cell to cell but roughly occurs approximately 1/2 to 1 msec after the peak of the action potential.

What are the two types of refractory periods?

There are two types of refractory periods; the absolute refractory period, which corresponds to depolarization and repolarization , and the relative refractory period, which corresponds to hyperpolarization.

What happens to a cell during the absolute refractory?

When the voltage-gated sodium channels are either open or inactivated, the cell is unable to fire another action potential regardless of the strength of the stimulus acting on the cell. This segment of the action potential is called the absolute refractory period. No additional action potentials can be fired during this time.

What is exactly the refractory period?

In psychology, refractory period means a delay in response. This is not something to do with our intelligence but our reaction times – this refractory period is, therefore, also to do with our nerve pathways but on a broader scale.