Final answer:
Hyperpolarization, which makes the cell interior more negative, actually reduces the likelihood of an action potential, contrary to the student's statement, which is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that hyperpolarization makes the inside of a cell more positive and more likely to generate an action potential is false. Hyperpolarization is actually a change in a cell's membrane potential that makes it more negative, moving further away from zero. This makes the inside of a neuron less likely to generate an action potential. Hyperpolarization typically occurs when potassium ions (K+) move out of the cell, increasing the negative charge inside.
The action potential operates on an all-or-nothing principle and occurs when the membrane is depolarized to a certain threshold. This depolarization usually happens when sodium ions (Na+) flow into the cell, making the inside more positive. Once the action potential begins, it must run to completion.