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
The resting state refers to the baseline state of a neuron when it is not actively firing an action potential. During this state, the neuron maintains a negative charge inside compared to outside.
An action potential is a brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron, resulting in communication between neurons. It occurs when there is a change in electrical charge across the neuronal membrane.
A neuron is an individual nerve cell responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. It consists of dendrites (receiving end), cell body (processing center), and an axon (transmitting end).
Threshold refers to the minimum level of stimulation required for a neuron to generate an action potential. If the incoming signals surpass this threshold, then an action potential will be triggered.