Final answer:
After hyperpolarization, potassium channels close, and the cell's membrane potential stabilizes back to its resting state of around -70mV, preparing the cell for any subsequent action potentials.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a cell is hyperpolarized to -90mV following an action potential, this indicates that the cell has gone beyond the resting membrane potential due to the outflow of potassium ions (K+). The potassium channels that opened during repolarization to allow K+ to leave the cell are slightly delayed in closing, causing the cell to become more negative than its typical resting potential. This period is known as hyperpolarization, and it's a refractory period during which the neuron is less sensitive to stimuli and unlikely to fire another action potential immediately.
As the K+ channels eventually close, the cell's membrane potential will stabilize and return to its resting state, around -70mV, thanks to the sodium-potassium pump restoring the ionic balance. This resting potential is critical for the cell's readiness for subsequent action potentials, maintaining homeostasis and allowing for cell-to-cell communication, particularly in nerve and muscle tissues where such electrical activities are fundamental for function.