action potential

Also known as GO:0001508, action potentials, AP

process by which neurons communicate with each other by changes in their membrane potentials.

AI overview

An action potential is a rapid electrical change that occurs across a neuron's membrane, allowing neurons to send signals to each other. This process is fundamental to how your nervous system works, enabling everything from thoughts and sensations to muscle movements.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

298,031 papers

Generation and propagation of the action potential.ReviewHandbook of clinical neurology · 2019Raghavan M, Fee D, Barkhaus PEDOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64032-1.00001-1
The action potential in mammalian central neurons.ReviewNature reviews. Neuroscience · 2007Bean BPDOI: 10.1038/nrn2148
The action potential.ReviewPractical neurology · 2007Barnett MW, Larkman PM
Action potential initiation and backpropagation in neurons of the mammalian CNS.ReviewTrends in neurosciences · 1997Stuart G, Spruston N, Sakmann B et al.DOI: 10.1016/s0166-2236(96)10075-8
Hybrid action potential etiology.ReviewJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology · 2000Jungschleger JG, Vos MADOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2000.tb00082.x
Backpropagating action potentials in neurones: measurement, mechanisms and potential functions.ReviewProgress in biophysics and molecular biology · 2005Waters J, Schaefer A, Sakmann BDOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2004.06.009
Monophasic action potential recordings in humans.ReviewJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology · 2007Moore HJ, Franz MRDOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2006.00756.x
The action potential: from voltage-gated conductances to molecular structures.ReviewBiological research · 2006Bezanilla FDOI: 10.4067/s0716-97602006000300005

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Wikidata facts

Image: Action Potential.gif

Show 3 more facts

Commons category: Action potentials
exact match: purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GO_0001508
short name: AP

Sources (6)

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Article

As an action potential (nerve impulse) travels down an axon, there is a change in electric polarity across the membrane of the axon. In response to a signal from another neuron, sodium- (Na) and potassium- (K)–gated ion channels open and close as the membrane reaches its threshold potential. Na channels open at the beginning of the action potential, and Na moves into the axon, causing depolarization. Repolarization occurs when K channels open and K moves out of the axon, creating a change in electric polarity between the outside of the cell and the inside. The impulse travels down the axon in one direction only, to the axon terminal where it signals other neurons.

An action potential (also known as a nerve impulse or "spike" when in a neuron) is a series of quick changes in voltage across a cell membrane. An action potential occurs when the membrane potential of a specific cell rapidly rises and falls. This "depolarization" (physically, a reversal of the polarization of the membrane) then causes adjacent locations to similarly depolarize. Action potentials occur in several types of excitable cells, which include animal cells like neurons and muscle cells, as well as some plant cells. Certain endocrine cells such as pancreatic beta cells, and certain cells of the anterior pituitary gland are also excitable cells.