Postsynaptic potential

Imagine that your brain is a big playground and all the neurons (or brain cells) are kids playing around. When two neurons want to communicate with each other, they use a special language called neurotransmitters. These are like little messengers that travel from one neuron to another to deliver a message.

When a bunch of neurotransmitters reach the second neuron, they try to get inside and push a button called a receptor. When the button is pushed, it sends a signal to the second neuron and this is called a postsynaptic potential. Think of it like a game of tag – one kid (neuron) tags another kid (neuron) and this signals the start of the game.

There are two types of postsynaptic potential: excitatory and inhibitory. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) make the second neuron more likely to "fire", or send out its own neurotransmitters to other neurons. It's like adding a little bit of fuel to the fire. On the other hand, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) make the second neuron less likely to fire, like putting a damper on the fire.

So, postsynaptic potentials are a way that neurons in your brain communicate with each other. They are like little signals that tell the next neuron what to do – either get excited or chill out.