Generator potential

Definition

A generator potential is a local change in the membrane potential of a sensory receptor that occurs in response to a stimulus, making the neuron more likely to produce an action potential. Unlike action potentials, generator potentials are graded, meaning their magnitude varies with the strength of the stimulus.

Related terms

Action Potential: A rapid rise and fall in membrane voltage that constitutes a signal transmitted along neurons or muscle fibers.

Sensory Receptor: Specialized cells or structures that detect changes in the environment and convert them into electrical signals for processing by the nervous system.

Membrane Potential: The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell's plasma membrane, crucial for the transmission of nerve impulses