What term is used to describe the process of reducing a membrane's potential from resting state?

The term that describes the process of reducing a membrane's potential from its resting state is depolarization. In the context of a cell's membrane potential, resting state typically refers to a negative charge inside the cell relative to the outside. During depolarization, there is a decrease in this negative charge, meaning that the inside of the cell becomes less negative (or more positive), often due to the influx of sodium ions (Na+) across the membrane. This change in the membrane potential is critical in processes such as the generation of action potentials in neurons and muscle cells, where rapid depolarization leads to cellular signaling and contraction, respectively.

Polarization refers to the establishment of a membrane potential, while hyperpolarization is the process of making the inside of the cell even more negative than the resting potential. Repolarization involves returning to the resting state after depolarization. Understanding these terms helps clarify how cells communicate and respond to stimuli.