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A graded potential is a short-lived, localized change in a neuron's membrane potential triggered by a stimulus. When ligand-gated or mechanically-gated ion channels open or close, ions flow across the membrane. This ion movement makes the cytoplasmic side less negative (depolarization) or more negative (hyperpolarization), depending on which ions enter or exit the cell.

Graded potentials are decremental because their strength diminishes as they travel along the plasma membrane. Ions carrying the current flow along the membrane and depolarize adjacent regions, but some ions leak through leak channels. This ion loss causes the potential to gradually weaken the further it moves from the stimulation site.

Depolarizing graded potentials occur when positive ions like sodium or calcium enter the cell, making the interior less negative. Hyperpolarizing graded potentials result when positive potassium exits the cell or negative chloride enters it, making the interior more negative. Both types shift the membrane potential away from or toward the resting potential of -70 mV.

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) depolarize the membrane, bringing it closer to threshold for firing an action potential, typically through sodium influx. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) hyperpolarize the membrane, moving it away from threshold, usually through chloride influx or potassium efflux. Both types integrate information at synapses to determine if a neuron fires.

Multiple graded potentials can summate, combining their effects to generate a potential with increased strength and duration. When spatial or temporal summation of these potentials reaches a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This action potential can then transmit signals along the axon over long distances, enabling neural communication.

Graded potentials are essential for information processing at synapses, where neurons communicate. They allow neurons to integrate excitatory and inhibitory signals from multiple sources through spatial and temporal summation. This integration enables neurons to decide whether to generate an action potential and transmit signals further along neural circuits.

Graded potentials are named for their direct proportionality to stimulus strength. The number of ion channels that open or close and their duration of opening directly correlate with stimulus intensity. Stronger stimuli activate more channels or keep them open longer, producing larger graded potentials with greater magnitude and duration.