If a bowling ball fell on your foot, the action potentials would differ from a feather falling on your foot. The action potentials for the bowling ball would be
A) larger in size and faster in occurrence.
B) the same size as for the feather but they would be slower in occurrence.
C) the same size as for the feather but they would be faster in occurrence.
D) larger in size and slower in occurrence.
E) smaller in size and faster in occurrence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Action potentials are all-or-nothing events; their size does not vary with the intensity of the stimulus. The difference in sensation (e.g., pain from a bowling ball vs. the light touch of a feather) is encoded by the rate of action potentials (frequency) and the specific neurons activated. A heavier, more painful stimulus like a bowling ball would cause action potentials to occur more rapidly, not change their size.

If a Bowling Ball Fell on Your Foot, the Action