NS 102 Science of Nature II

Fall 2024

Final Exam

Jan 2, 2025 (17:30-19:40)

Surname:

Name:

Student No:

This exam consists of 8 pages including 8 problems (105 points in total).

The “List of formulas and constants” is attached at the end of the exam.

Show all your work and in-between steps clearly to receive full credits.
Use at most 3 decimal digits in your calculations.
Do not leave your answer as fractions. Fraction answers will not be accepted.

Before you start the exam

● remove the formula sheet carefully from the exam,
● count the number of pages (8 pages, 8 problems) and write your full name on top of
each page,
● scientific calculators are allowed, but use of cell phones, computers, or any other
electronic devices are not allowed.
● Exam papers will be scanned and graded online, so please use a dark pencil and write
clearly in the exam. It is your responsibility to write clearly.
 Do not write Do not write
here Name:________________________ Student No:________________ here

Q1 [18 pts] The concentrations across the cell membrane (10-nm thick) for two different molecules, A and B, are shown
in the graph. The concentration functions are given by CA(x) = −(2E10)x + 200 mol/m3 and CB(x) = −(2E18)x2 + 200 mol/m3,
where x is in m. Assume that the cell membrane is completely
permeable to both molecules.
a. You measure the flux of molecule A at x = 1 nm and find
that the magnitude is 10 mol/m2·s.
i. Is the flux in +x or −x direction? State how you find
that. (2 pts)

ii. Find the diffusion coefficient. (5 pts)

b. Given that the diffusion coefficients are the same for both molecules, how does the flux of B compare to the flux of
A at the same position (x = 1 nm)? Explain your reasoning. (3 pts)

c. At what position, if any, the flux is the same for both A and B? Explain. (4 pts)

d. Find the average flux between 0 ≤ x ≤ 10 nm of B. (4 pts)

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Q2 [20 pts] Imagine a hypothetical cell membrane with thickness 5 nm and the membrane potential −70 mV in the resting
state at 37 oC, as shown in the figure below. In this nerve cell the concentration of K+ is 30 times higher inside than outside
the cell, whereas the concentrations of Na+ and Cl− are 10 and 20 fold, higher outside than inside, respectively.
a. What is the direction of the electric field? Indicate the
direction and calculate the magnitude of the field. (3 pts)

b. Fill in the table to indicate the directions (+x or –x) of Ion Concentration grad. Electric force
the concentration gradient (dC/dx) and the electric
force within the membrane, for each ion. (6 pts) K+
Na+
Cl–

c. Calculate the Nernst potential for chloride ions. (3 pts)

d. This membrane is located in a synapse and has a chloride pump to maintain inside and outside Cl− concentrations
as given above. The pump uses one molecule of ATP to move two chloride ions.
i. What type of transport is involved in the pump? State why. (1 pt)

ii. Show on the figure above, the direction in which the pump moves the chloride ions. Label it as “pump”. (1pt)
iii. Calculate the net work done by the pump to move two Cl− ions. (6 pts)

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Q3 [20 pts] An action potential at one position of a neuron axon is modeled as follows.

a. The axon membrane patch is modeled with an RC circuit, where the axon membrane is modeled as a capacitor.
State two similarities between the membrane capacitor and a capacitor in an electric circuit. The similarities must
address different aspects of their function or behavior. (2 pts)
1.

2.

b. The net flow of 15000 ions happens in 2 ms through this patch of the axon to generate the modeled action
potential. Find the capacitance of this patch of membrane. (4 pts)

c. Given the membrane potential as a function of time, calculate the membrane potential at t = time constant (τ). (5
pts)

d. Indicate the time constant (τ) of this axon membrane on the graph in the charging part of the action potential.
Label it as τ, and estimate the value of τ from the graph. (3 pts)

Your answer: τ = ________________________

e. Find the membrane resistance using your answers to the above questions. (3 pts)

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f. If the membrane capacitance decreases while all other parameters remain the same, which statement is correct?
Circle the correct choice. (3 pts)
A. Both the charging and discharging would happen in shorter time
B. Both the charging and discharging would happen in longer time
C. The charging would take shorter but the discharging would take longer
D. The charging would take longer but the discharging would take shorter

Briefly state your reasoning by relating it to the charges on the capacitor.

Q4 [12 pts] An actual action potential is plotted in the graph below. The Vm values are not shown but this is a typical action
potential that we discussed in this module.
a. Indicate on the graph the time period during which the Na+ ion
conductance dominates over K+ ion conductance. (3 pts)
b. Briefly explain the mechanisms for Vm to decrease after 2 ms. (4 pts)

c. Sketch the corresponding electric field as a function of time. Take +x towards extracellular as shown. Briefly explain
why you sketched in such a way. (5 pts)

Brief explanation:

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Q5 [5 pts] Fill in the blanks with the correct word. Circle one of the choices if given in [ ], or write an appropriate
word/phrase if not given. (0.5 x 10 = 5 pts)

The time constant of a patch of axon membrane increases as its resistance gets __1__ [smaller/larger]. This is

because __2__ [more/less] ions flow through the (3)__________________________ in the membrane and

__4__ [decreases/increases] the conductivity, which results in __5__ [faster/slower/unchanged] charging of the

membrane capacitor to a certain membrane potential.

The space constant of an axon increases as the membrane resistivity (which is proportional to the resistance)

__6__ [decreases/increases]. This is because __7__ [more/less] ions leak out of the axon, which __8__

[decreases/increases] the ion current along the axon. The increased space constant makes the signal conduction

__9__ [faster/slower] down the axon by keeping the membrane potential __10__ [higher/lower/constant] over

longer distances between action potential sites.

Q6 [8 pts] In some diseases, the immune system attacks and damages myelin sheath. This results in partial loss of
myelin in certain segments of the myelinated axon (see the figure), reducing the signal transmission speed along the
axon compared to the normal myelinated axon. Based on the RC circuit model of the axon, compare the normal myelin
sheath and damaged myelin sheath to explain how this reduces the signal transmission speed.
Use the concept of conductance, space constant and action potential formation. [Max 3 sentences] (8 pts)

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Q7 [15 pts] Synapses are responsible for chemical transmission of signals between two neurons.
a. Put the statements below in the correct order describing the events in synaptic transmission. (3 pts)
1. Appropriate response is generated in the postsynaptic membrane.
2. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors in the postsynaptic membrane
3. Neurotransmitters diffuse in the synaptic cleft.
4. Action potential reaches the presynaptic membrane.
5. Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.
6. Specific ions flow in or out of the postsynaptic membrane.

__________ ⇒ __________ ⇒ __________ ⇒ __________ ⇒ __________ ⇒ __________

b. In the figure below pre- and postsynaptic neurons in two different synapses (A) and (B) are shown. These neurons
release two different neurotransmitters, glutamate (excitatory) and GABA (inhibitory), respectively, into two synaptic
clefts.

_____________ -synaptic neuron

_____________ -synaptic neuron

i. Fill in the blanks above to indicate pre-and post-synaptic neuron. (1 pt)

ii. Which of the following graphs (I, II, III) show the membrane potentials in the postsynaptic neurons (A) and (B)
after the arrival of the neurotransmitter signal in these synapses? (2 pts)

A: _____________

B: _____________

iii. Which ions may be involved in the response in the postsynaptic transmission in (A) and (B) respectively? Briefly
state your reason for each. (3 pts)

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c. These synapses are found in a region of the brain related to visual stimuli. A group of researchers used fMRI to study
the brain’s response to visual stimuli and observed reduced activity when participants were exposed to a drug that
blocks ligand-gated ion channels in the glutamate synapses.
i. Explain how the blockage of the ion channels could affect neural communication. (3 pts)

ii. Another group of researchers using the same fMRI data reports no reduced activity in response to the drug.
Explain how the challenges specific to fMRI data collection or analysis could lead to such conflicting conclusions.
(3 pts)

Q8 [7 pts] Recall Eren Hoca’s lecture. Memories are a fundamental aspect of our lives, yet they are not as reliable as
we might believe. Scientific research reveals that memory formation and retrieval involve complex processes that make
them vulnerable to distortion.
a. Describe how memories are formed at the neural level, referencing long-term potentiation (LTP). (3 pts)

b. Explain two differences between working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM). (4 pts)

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 NS102 Brain Module

List of formulas, constants and other data

Constants & Conversions:

|𝑞𝑒 | = 1.6 × 10−19 𝐶 [Electron charge] 𝑘𝐵 = 𝑅/𝑁𝐴 = 1.38 × 10−23 𝐽/K

𝜀0 = 8.85 × 10−12 𝐶 2 /(𝑁 ∙ 𝑚2 ) 𝑇(𝐾) = 𝑇(𝑜 𝐶) + 273

𝑅 = 8.314 𝐽/𝑚𝑜𝑙 ⋅ 𝐾 [Gas Constant] nano (𝑛) = 10−9 ; micro (𝜇) = 10−6

𝑁𝐴 = 6.02 × 1023 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 1 𝑚𝑀 = 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙/𝑚3

Formulas:

𝑑𝐶 𝛥𝐶
Flux 𝐽⃗ = −𝐷 𝐽⃗ = −𝐷
𝑑𝑥⃗ 𝛥𝑥⃗
𝐶final
Chemical Potential 𝛥𝐺diff = 𝑅 𝑇 𝑙𝑛 ( )
𝐶init

𝑊 = ∫ 𝐹⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑟⃗ = ∫ 𝐹⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑥⃗
Work
𝑊𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = −𝛥𝑈 (if 1 dimension)

Electric field 𝐸⃗⃗ = 𝐹⃗𝐸 /𝑞

𝑓
Electric Potential Energy 𝛥𝑈 = −𝑞 ∫ 𝐸⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑟⃗ = −𝑞𝐸⃗⃗ · 𝑑⃗ (if constant E)
𝑖
𝑓
∆𝑈 (if constant E)
Electric Potential ∆𝑉 = = − ∫ 𝐸⃗⃗ ∙ 𝑑𝑟⃗ = −𝐸⃗⃗ · 𝑑⃗
𝑞 𝑖

∆𝑉𝑚 ≝ 𝑉in − 𝑉out

Membrane Potential & Nernst
𝑅𝑇 𝐶out
Equation ∆𝑉𝑚 = ln ( )
𝑞𝑁𝐴 𝐶in

𝑑𝑞 𝑉 𝐿 ρ= resistivity
Current and Resistance (𝑅) 𝑖= ; 𝑅= ; 𝑅=𝜌
𝑑𝑡 𝑖 𝐴
1
Conductance (g) g=
𝑅
𝑞 𝐴
Capacitance (SI unit: F) 𝐶= ; 𝐶 = 𝜅𝜀0
∆𝑉 𝑑
Voltage of charging and discharging
capacitor in RC circuit
𝑉𝐶 (𝑡) = 𝑉max (1 − 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶 ); 𝑉𝐶 (𝑡) = 𝑉max 𝑒 −𝑡/𝑅𝐶

𝜌mem 𝜆
Time constant, Space constant, 𝜏 = 𝑅mem 𝐶mem ; 𝜆 = √ ; 𝑣=
𝑅axial 𝜏
Speed of action potential
(𝜌mem = resistivity)