Final answer:
Temporal summation occurs when a second potential arrives at a neuron before the first potential has ended, leading to a combined effect that can quickly reach the threshold for action potential generation.
Step-by-step explanation:
For temporal summation to occur, a second potential must arrive before a previous one has been completed. This process is fundamental in neural communication within the human brain and nervous system. When multiple signals arrive at a neuron in quick succession, the effects of those potentials can add together or 'summate' if the second arrives before the first has fully dissipated.
This can lead to the neuron reaching the threshold for action potential generation more quickly, thus facilitating faster or enhanced neural responses. Temporal summation is contrasted with spatial summation, where multiple signals from different synapses on the same neuron arrive simultaneously.