Final answer:
A graded potential is a temporary change in the neuron's membrane potential that varies with the strength of the stimulus. These potentials are crucial for determining whether an action potential, the neuron's electrical signal for communication, will be triggered.
Step-by-step explanation:
A potential that is a temporary change in membrane potential which lasts only as long as the stimulus that causes it and can vary in size is called a graded potential. These graded potentials are changes in the membrane voltage that are directly proportional to the strength of the stimulus. If a neuron's resting membrane potential changes from -70 mV to a less negative value, this is known as depolarization, whereas a change to a more negative value is referred to as hyperpolarization. These graded changes can lead to an action potential if they are strong enough to reach the threshold level of the neuron.
Graded potentials are commonly associated with the dendrites of a neuron and are responsible for determining whether an action potential will occur by summing the transient voltage changes that result from synaptic inputs. The sum of these potentials can lead the neuron to reach a threshold potential, which in turn initiates an action potential. The graded potential is an important concept in understanding how neurons process and transmit information.