Action potentials are super important for how neurons talk to each other. Think of them as tiny electrical messages that move along the axon, which is like a long wire of a neuron.

Here’s how it all works, step by step:

1. Resting State: The neuron is chilling out and has a negative charge.

2. Threshold Reached: When something stimulates the neuron, it starts to change.

3. Action Potential: Special gates open up, letting sodium ions (which are positively charged) rush inside. This change flips the charge to positive.

4. Repolarization: Next, other gates open to let potassium ions (also positively charged) leave the neuron. This helps bring the charge back to negative.

Once the action potential is created, it travels down the axon to the end, called the axon terminals. Here, it helps release chemicals known as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are key for how neurons communicate with each other at a tiny gap called the synapse.

So, action potentials are the way neurons send and receive messages, playing a crucial role in how our brain and nervous system work!