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WAHuman BiologyQuick questions
Unit 3: Homeostasis and Disease
Quick questions on The nerve impulse and action potential: WACE Year 12 Human Biology Unit 3
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What is the refractory period?Show answer
Just after an action potential, the region of membrane cannot be re-stimulated for a short time, called the refractory period, while the ion channels reset. This has two important effects: it ensures the impulse travels in only one direction, because the region behind cannot fire again immediately, and it sets an upper limit on how frequently a neuron can fire.
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