Neuron: Electrophysiology Of The

). This triggers an , a rapid spike in electrical activity that travels down the axon.

When a neuron receives enough stimulation, it reaches a critical "threshold" (around Electrophysiology of the Neuron

: Sodium channels close and potassium channels open, allowing K+cap K raised to the positive power to exit and bringing the voltage back down. : The voltage briefly dips below the resting

: The voltage briefly dips below the resting level before stabilizing. While we often think of thoughts as abstract,

A neuron at rest is like a charged battery. It maintains a , typically around

The Spark of Life: Electrophysiology of the Neuron At its core, the brain is an electrical machine. While we often think of thoughts as abstract, they are physically powered by the movement of charged ions across cellular membranes. is the study of these electrical properties, allowing us to understand how cells communicate, how disorders arise, and how the brain processes information . The Resting State: A Battery Ready to Fire

. This negative charge inside the cell is created by an imbalance of ions—specifically sodium ( Na+cap N a raised to the positive power ) and potassium ( K+cap K raised to the positive power )—regulated by specialized pumps and channels. The Action Potential: The "All-or-Nothing" Signal