Which of the following describes the process where membrane voltage shifts to a less negative value?

The process where membrane voltage shifts to a less negative value is known as depolarization. During depolarization, the membrane potential becomes less negative (or more positive) relative to the resting potential. This typically occurs when positively charged ions, such as sodium, move into the cell, reducing the negative charge inside the cell compared to the outside.

In the context of action potentials, depolarization is a critical phase that allows neurons to transmit signals. When a stimulus reaches a certain threshold, voltage-gated sodium channels open, causing a rapid influx of sodium ions and resulting in a marked increase in the membrane potential.

Repolarization, on the other hand, refers to the return of the membrane potential to a more negative value after depolarization. Hyperpolarization occurs when the membrane potential becomes even more negative than the resting potential, which is the opposite of depolarization. Resting potential is the baseline membrane voltage of a neuron when it is not actively transmitting a signal, usually around -70 mV. Therefore, the correct description of the process of shifting to a less negative value is indeed depolarization.