resting potential

the electric potential across the plasma membrane of a neuron when it is in the nonexcited, or resting, state. It is usually in the range of –50 to –100 mV for vertebrate neurons, representing an excess of negatively charged ions on the inside of the membrane. See also action potential.

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Psychology term of the day

February 28th 2025

common metric

a unit or scale of measurement that is applied to data from different sources. In a meta-analysis, for instance, the results from multiple studies may need to be placed on a common metric so that they may be meaningfully compared.