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Action Potential

An action potential is a big, all-or-nothing event where a classical neuron sends an electrical pulse: a spike.

Part of an early, unfinished explainers project: very much under construction.

The short version

Once you have a Neuron, with its axon and dendrites, you have the action potential: a big event that sends a signal, triggering the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters at a synapse onto other cells (Synaptic Communication (coming soon)). That's how neurons communicate and affect each other, in a network. (How it actually works: Membrane Potential and Ion Channels (coming soon).)

Builds on

Neuron

Leads to

Membrane Potential and Ion Channels (coming soon)Synaptic Communication (coming soon)Spikes and Firing Rate (coming soon)