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Related Concept Videos

Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles01:24

Generation of Action Potential in Skeletal Muscles

Every cell in the body maintains a membrane potential due to an uneven distribution of positive and negative charges across its plasma membrane. The membrane potential is measured in millivolts and quantifies the difference in charge across the membrane.
Like neurons, muscle cells are also regarded as excitable due to their capacity to change in response to stimuli, primarily due to voltage-gated ion channels embedded in their plasma membranes, which get activated by alterations in the cell's...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Modeling Biological Membranes with Circuit Boards and Measuring Electrical Signals in Axons: Student Laboratory Exercises
13:56

Modeling Biological Membranes with Circuit Boards and Measuring Electrical Signals in Axons: Student Laboratory Exercises

Published on: January 18, 2011

Is action potential threshold lowest in the axon?

Maarten H P Kole1, Greg J Stuart

  • 1Division of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. maarten.kole@anu.edu.au

Nature Neuroscience
|October 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Action potential threshold is lowest in the axon, contrary to some beliefs. This study found lower voltage thresholds in the axon compared to the soma in rat cortical pyramidal neurons, confirming the axon as the primary site for action potential initiation.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Biology
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • The precise location of the lowest action potential threshold in neurons is a subject of ongoing research.
  • Conventional electrophysiological techniques may influence measurements of neuronal excitability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To accurately determine the action potential threshold across different neuronal compartments in rat cortical pyramidal neurons.
  • To investigate the influence of measurement techniques on action potential threshold determination.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings were performed on rat cortical pyramidal neurons.
  • Action potential voltage and current thresholds were measured at the axon, soma, and dendrites.

Main Results:

  • Action potential voltage threshold was found to be higher in the axon compared to other neuronal locations when using conventional techniques.
  • However, both current and voltage thresholds for the isolated somato-dendritic spike were substantially higher at the soma.
  • These findings collectively indicate that the action potential threshold is indeed lowest in the axon.

Conclusions:

  • The axon serves as the primary site for action potential initiation due to its lowest threshold.
  • Understanding neuronal excitability at different compartments is crucial for comprehending neural signal processing.