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Biology Simulations
Communication & homeostasisA-level

Action potential

How do ion channels change the voltage across a neurone’s membrane?

Follow sodium and potassium ions through membrane channels as a neurone generates an action potential.

Open simulation

Explore at your own pace. Pause, look closer, play again.

Action potential simulation showing sodium and potassium ions crossing a neurone membrane through channel proteins.
Action potentialView from the simulation

Look closer.

  1. Connect sodium entry with depolarisation and potassium exit with repolarisation.
  2. Compare weak and strong stimuli to explore the all-or-nothing response.
  3. Investigate refractory periods and the effects of changing sodium or potassium conductance.