Brain & Body
Action Potential
Every thought, feeling, and movement you have starts with a tiny electrical spark inside a brain cell.
The electrical signal a brain cell fires to send a message to the next cell. Like pressing a domino — a wave of electrical charge travels down the nerve. Every thought, movement, and feeling depends on millions of these happening every second.
How it works
When your brain cell reaches a tipping point, charged particles rush through its walls, creating a wave of electricity. This pulse races down the cell and triggers chemical signals to the next one. Your brain fires millions of these every second to keep you thinking, moving, and feeling.
Think of it like
It's like a row of dominoes — once the first one tips, the whole chain fires in rapid sequence.
What it feels like
You never feel a single one, but every word you read right now is carried by thousands of these tiny sparks working together.