Once an Action Potential Reaches the End of the Axon

question 170

Multiple Choice

Once an action potential reaches the end of the axon, how does the information usually get to the next neuron?

• A) The action potential jumps across the synaptic cleft to the next neuron in the form of an electrical impulse.
• B) Myelin acts as a bridge to transport it across the synaptic cleft.
• C) Potassium ions (K+) move back and forth between neurons to carry the information across.
• D) Vesicles at the end of the axon release neurotransmitters which float across the synaptic cleft to the next neuron.

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Definitions:

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological discomfort experienced when holding contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or when actions conflict with one's beliefs.

Festinger and Carlsmith

Psychologists known for their 1959 cognitive dissonance experiment which demonstrated how attitudes can change to align with behavior.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological concept indicating the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personality-based explanations for others' behavior while underestimating situational explanations.