What are local potentials characterized by?

Local potentials are characterized by reversible changes in membrane potential. This means that when a stimulus causes a depolarization or hyperpolarization of a neuron, the changes in membrane potential can return to the resting state if the stimulus is removed. Local potentials are graded, meaning their magnitude can vary depending on the strength of the stimulus. They are typically short-lived and diminish in strength as they move away from the site of the stimulus, which reflects their reversible nature.

In contrast, local potentials do not travel over long distances like action potentials do, which are characterized by their all-or-nothing response. While they can vary in magnitude, they do not have a constant strength that is maintained regardless of the stimulus, meaning they are not constant in magnitude. Additionally, the activation of local potentials does not require high thresholds, which distinguishes them from action potentials that do require a membrane potential to reach a specific threshold to be initiated.