Blame it on the Alcohol: An Investigation on Increasing Ethanol Concentrations Lowering Daphnia magna Heart Rate

Abstract

Action potential has a direct relationship with heart rate for organisms. Exposure to stimulants and depressants will impact rates of action potentials, resulting in varying effects on heart rate. In this lab experiment, the effects of ethanol will be observed for Daphnia magna, which will be exposed to various concentrations of ethanol. The data collected in the experiment suggested that exposure to heightened concentrations of ethanol resulted in lower heart rate. Other research has suggested that ethanol is a depressant for organisms with myogenic cardiovascular systems. These findings can be applied in the healthcare world relating to the development of pharmaceuticals.