All-or-None Response

Definition

The all-or-none response refers to how neurons either fire completely or they don't fire at all; there's no such thing as partial firing.

Analogy

Consider this like flipping on a light switch - it’s either on or off; there’s no halfway point where only half of the light bulb lights up.

Related terms

Threshold: The level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential. It's like needing enough pressure applied to flip that light switch on.

Refractory Period: A period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation. Like needing time for your eyes adjust after turning off bright lights before they can respond to light again.

Neurotransmitters: Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron (nerve cell) to another 'target' neuron. They're like the electricity that allows the light switch to turn on the bulb.