= Relative neuronal refractory period
During a <relative neuronal refractory period>, another <action potential> is possible, but incomplete recovery changes the excitation needed to obtain it. Remaining <sodium> <ion-channel inactivation> and elevated <potassium> <electrical conductance> both matter. A <hyperpolarization> after an <action potential> can increase the voltage excursion needed for firing, while extra <electrical conductance> can drain an injected pulse faster. Thus a single fixed <neuronal firing threshold> measured from the instantaneous voltage misses relevant state variables.<Neuronal Dynamics: From Single Neurons to Networks and Models of Cognition by Wulfram Gerstner and others/2.2 Hodgkin-Huxley Model>[§2.2.3, Refractoriness, Figure 2.9: a stronger second pulse can evoke an earlier second spike; increased conductance shortens the voltage response]{ref}
Recovery can depend on earlier spikes as well as the last one; the <Hodgkin-Huxley model> and <neural adaptation> provide richer histories than an imposed reset. A fixed hold in a <leaky integrate-and-fire model> is a useful simplification with a specified domain, rather than a complete explanation of a <relative neuronal refractory period>.<Neuronal Dynamics: From Single Neurons to Networks and Models of Cognition by Wulfram Gerstner and others/1.4 Limitations of the Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Model>[§1.4.3, Adaptation, Refractoriness, and Burst Firing: dependence on preceding activity]{ref}
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