Action potentials are said to be "all-or-none" in character because
A)The rate of propagation of an action potential down an axon is independent of stimulus strength
B)They are associated with an absolute refractory period
C)A supra-threshold stimulus is required to stimulate an action potential during the relative refractory period
D)The amplitude of an action potential generated in any given neuron is the same, regardless of the stimulus strength
E)All of these statements describe the "all-or-none" character of action potentials

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement "The amplitude of an action potential generated in any given neuron is the same, regardless of the stimulus strength" best describes the all-or-none characteristic of action potentials. This means that once a certain threshold stimulus strength is reached, the amplitude of the resulting action potential will be the same, regardless of the strength of the stimulus. This is in contrast to graded potentials, which do vary in amplitude depending on the strength of the stimulus.

Action Potentials Are Said to Be "All-Or-None" in Character Because