What happens during the refractory period of a neuron?

The refractory period of a neuron is a crucial phase following an action potential, during which the neuron is unable to fire another action potential. This period is divided into two phases: the absolute refractory period and the relative refractory period.

During the absolute refractory period, which occurs immediately after an action potential, voltage-gated sodium channels become inactivated, making it impossible for the neuron to generate another action potential, regardless of the strength of incoming stimuli. This ensures that action potentials are unidirectional, moving away from the initial segment of the axon and preventing overlapping signals.

In the subsequent relative refractory period, some sodium channels return to a state where they can be activated, but the neuron is hyperpolarized due to potassium channels remaining open, necessitating a stronger-than-normal stimulus to trigger another action potential. This characteristic of the refractory period is significant because it sets a limit on the frequency at which neuronal signals can be generated, allowing for orderly and discrete signaling in the nervous system.