As grade potentials spread along a membrane, they Blank______ in magnitude.Multiple choice question.decreaseincrease

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the context: The question pertains to concepts in biology, specifically in relation to membrane potentials.
2. Understand the terms: "potentials" refer to the voltage difference across a membrane, and "magnitude" refers to the strength or intensity of that voltage difference.

Relevant Concepts

1. Membrane Potentials: When ions move across membranes, they create electrical gradients (potentials).
2. Spread of Potentials: Membrane potentials can change in amplitude as they spread away from their origin point due to factors like resistance and capacitance of the membrane.

Analysis and Detail

1. Magnitude Change: When considering how potentials behave over distance, it is commonly accepted that the strength of the signal tends to diminish as it moves further from its source. This phenomenon is due to both the leakage of ions through the cellular membrane and the resistance encountered.

Verify and Summarize

1. In the case of graded potentials, as they spread along a membrane without regeneration (as is seen in action potentials), their magnitude decreases.

Final Answer

decrease