Final answer:
The statement about action potentials being large, rapid, and brief changes in membrane potential due to voltage-gated ion channels is correct. These changes are a crucial mechanism in nerve signal transmission, involving a temporary influx of Na+ ions followed by an egress of K+ ions to restore the resting potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the concept of an action potential, a momentary change in the electrical potential of a neuron (or muscle) membrane that is characterized by large (>100 mV), rapid, and brief (-2 ms) fluctuations. This change is indeed due to the actions of special voltage-gated ion channels, supporting the description of action potentials as large, rapid, and brief changes in membrane potential. The process involves a sequence of depolarization and repolarization, initiated when voltage-gated sodium channels open and allow sodium ions (Na+) to enter the cell, followed by the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels that allow potassium ions (K+) to exit the cell, restoring the membrane to its resting potential.
During an action potential, the membrane voltage experiences a marked change from its resting potential of approximately -70 mV to around +30 mV, before returning to the resting state. This process is akin to the release of a charge from a battery, such as an AA or 9V battery, but on a much smaller scale. The propagation of action potentials along a neuron is crucial for nerve signal transmission.