Psychology / Unit 2 Psych 0151 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Resting Potential
Captions available
The idea
The resting potential is the stable negative charge inside a neuron relative to outside when the neuron is not firing.
In practice
A neuron at rest sits near seventy millivolts more negative inside than out, holding sodium ions outside the membrane.
Where people slip
Resting is not inactive. Maintaining that charge is one of the most energy-expensive things the neuron does.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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