What is the electrical impulse that travels along the axon of a neuron called?

The electrical impulse that travels along the axon of a neuron is known as the action potential. This phenomenon occurs when a neuron is activated, leading to a rapid change in electrical charge across its membrane. When a neuron receives sufficient stimulation, it reaches a threshold that triggers the opening of voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions flow into the neuron, causing depolarization, which is the key component of the action potential.

This electrical impulse propagates along the axon, allowing information to be transmitted swiftly from one part of the neuron to another and, ultimately, to neighboring neurons or other target cells. The action potential is a fundamental aspect of neural communication, enabling the complex processes underlying thought, emotion, and behavior.

The other options do not accurately describe the electrical impulse along the axon. Dendrites are the branching structures that receive signals but do not carry electrical impulses. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers released from neurons but are not electrical impulses. Lastly, synaptic responses refer to the communication between neurons at the synapse, which occurs after the electrical signal has traveled down the axon.