1.4 The Brain and the Functioning of Nerve Cells

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Figure 1.35: The membrane potential of a neuron

membrane.

only need to open for a specific ion to equalize. Another one must put in a lot of energy

to regenerate the imbalance, the potential.

The sudden, very short equalization of the potential is the “action potential”, which

is the piece of information sent through the brain (Figure 1.36). Then the original or

Figure 1.36: The resting potential and the action

potential that transmits information along the

neuron membrane.