What term is used to describe the state of a neuron when it is not actively firing an impulse?

The term that describes the state of a neuron when it is not actively firing an impulse is "resting." In this state, the neuron is in a resting membrane potential, typically around -70 mV, which is maintained by the distribution of ions across the neuron's membrane, primarily sodium and potassium ions. The resting state is crucial for a neuron, as it prepares the cell to respond to stimuli and allows for the generation of action potentials when necessary.

During this phase, the sodium channels are closed, and the potassium channels are mostly closed as well, contributing to the overall negative charge inside the neuron relative to the outside. This electrical potential difference is vital for the neuron's ability to quickly depolarize and fire an impulse when activated.

Repolarized refers to the process of returning to the resting state after depolarization. Depolarizing indicates the change in membrane potential towards a more positive value during the firing of an impulse. Hyperpolarized refers to a state where the membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential, which inhibits further action potentials. Understanding these terms and their context is important for grasping how neurons communicate and operate.