Eli5: What are the electrical impulses in the brain?
In: Biology
the electrical impulses are the nerves in your brain rapidly releasing a build up of electrolyte ions (mainly sodium, potassium, and chloride). Yknow how when you dissolve salt (NaCl) in water you get Na+ (positively charged) and Cl- (Negatively charged) floating around on their own?
Its the same deal in your neurons (tho add in Potassium too, K+)
You neurons have these special pumps in their cell membranes that move a bunch of positive ions into the cells but keep the negative ions out. Then when it is time for the neuron to fire it “opens the gates” and let’s these electrically charged ions rush out. Which starts a chain reaction down one of the “arms” of the neuron to the next neuron, eventually causing that neuron to go off.
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