Assume that you are able to monitor the rate of firing of a ...

[Capo]

Assume that you are able to monitor the rate of firing of a single neuron. Assume that you apply a drug that acts as an agonist at the neuron's autoreceptors located on its cell body.
 
  Indicate what the most likely effect the drug would have on the neuron's firing rate and provide a reasonable explanation for the mechanism underlying this effect.
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

In terms of an individual neuron's excitability, what would be the consequence of a drug that reduced the ability of voltage sensitive sodium ion channels at a neuron's axon hillock open up?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[gabrielle_lawrence]

Answer to Question 1

Activation of the autoreceptors would likely hyperpolarize the somatic membrane (e.g., enhancing K+ flow out of the neuron), making the neuron less excitable and decrease its firing rate.

Answer to Question 2

Since this would inhibit sodium flow rapidly into the axon, the neuron's excitability, i.e., its ability to create action potentials, would decrease.