Threshold
Definition
The threshold is the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Analogy
Think of the threshold as the amount of pressure you need to apply on a water gun's trigger for it to squirt out water. If you don't press hard enough (i.e., reach the threshold), no water comes out.
Related terms
Action Potential: This is like the squirt of water that comes out when you press the trigger. It's an electrical charge that travels down an axon when a neuron has passed its threshold and fires.
Resting Potential: This is like the state of your water gun before you press its trigger. It's the state of a neuron when it's at rest and capable of generating an action potential.
All-or-None Response: This principle states that if a neuron fires, it will fire at full strength or not at all - just like your water gun either squirts fully or doesn't squirt at all depending on whether you've pressed hard enough (reached the threshold).
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