Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Neural impulses, also known as action potentials, are electrical signals that travel along the axons of neurons. These impulses carry information from one neuron to another and are essential for communication within the nervous system.
Resting potential is the electrical charge across the membrane of a neuron when it is not sending an impulse. It represents the neuron at rest and ready to receive or generate an impulse.
An action potential refers to the brief change in electrical potential that occurs along the membrane of a neuron during an impulse. It involves depolarization and repolarization of the cell membrane.