Resting potential

Imagine a mini city made up of tiny houses and streets inside your brain. These houses, called neurons, have a special job of sending messages to each other to make your body do things like move, think, and feel.

Just like you need to recharge your batteries after playing with your toys, neurons also need to take a break after they do some work. This break time is called the resting potential.

When a neuron is resting, it’s like taking a nap. It’s not actively sending messages to other neurons but it’s ready to wake up and start the message-sending process again when there’s something important to communicate.

During the resting potential, the neuron has more negatively charged ions inside it and more positively charged ions outside of it. These ions are like tiny electric charges that move in and out of the neuron to help create the electrical signals that make up messages.

The difference in charges between the inside and outside of the neuron creates a sort of battery. This battery is what allows the neuron to send messages quickly when needed.

So, think of the resting potential as a little break time for neurons, when they recharge their batteries and get ready for their next job to keep your brain and body functioning properly.