Return of a depolarized membrane potential toward a more negative value. During an action potential, reduced inward current and increased outward current commonly contribute. It is distinct from hyperpolarization, which takes the membrane beyond its reference resting value.
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Repolarization is a physiological process that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells, particularly during the action potential cycle. It refers to the return of the cell’s membrane potential to its resting state after it has been depolarized. During an action potential, a cell's membrane becomes depolarized when sodium ions (Na+) flow into the cell, causing the inside of the cell to become more positive.