Final answer:
Nerve impulses are generated by a difference in electrical charge across the plasma membrane of neurons, which is created by ions. When stimulated, this difference in charge allows ions to rapidly move across the membrane and create action potentials. These action potentials then propagate along the network of nerves in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nerve impulses are electrical in nature and they result from a difference in electrical charge across the plasma membrane of a neuron. This difference in electrical charge is created by ions, which are electrically charged atoms or molecules.
When stimulated, the permeability of the neuron's membrane changes, allowing ions to rapidly move across the membrane and create an action potential. These action potentials then propagate along the network of nerves in the body, similar to how electricity flows through wires to turn on a light. The process is facilitated by myelin sheaths, which speed up the transmission of nerve impulses and reduce the energy input required.