Repolarization - wikipedia Repolarization In neuroscience, repolarization refers to the change in membrane potential that returns it to a negative value just after the depolarization phase of an action potential has changed the membrane potential to a positive value. The repolarization phase usually returns the membrane potential back to the resting membrane potential. The efflux of K ions results in the falling phase of an action potential. The ions pass through the selectivity filter of the K channel pore. There are several K channels that contribute to repolarization, including A-type channels, delayed rectifiers, and Ca - activated K channels. Repolarization typically results from the movement of positively charged K ions out of the cell. The repolarization phase of an action potential initially results in hyperpolarization, attainment of a membrane potential, termed the afterhyperpolarization, that is more negative than the resting potential. Repolarization usually takes several milliseconds. References Jump up ^ Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., eds. ( 2001 ). Neuroscience ( 2. ed. ). Sunderland, Mass : Sinauer Assoc. ISBN 0 - 87893 - 742 - 0. Jump up ^ Jeff Hardin ; Gregory Paul Bertoni ; Lewis J. Kleinsmith. Becker 's World of the Cell. Benjamin - Cummings Publishing Company ; December 2010. ISBN 978 - 0 - 321 - 71602 - 6. p. 389. External links `` Repolarization ( Animation ) ''. Psychology Department, Hanover College. Retrieved 18 May 2013. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Repolarization&oldid=817069473 '' Categories : Membrane biology Electrophysiology Electrochemistry Cellular neuroscience Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch עברית Lietuvių Polski Português Suomi Edit links This page was last edited on 25 December 2017, at 22 : 37 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: what ion drives the membrane potential back to resting membrane potential (repolarization)
Answer: K+ ions