The movement of positively charged ions across the membrane of a neuron can produce an action potential. This is a brief electrical signal that travels along the neuron's axon, allowing it to communicate with other neurons.

When a neuron receives a signal from another neuron, it causes the neuron to become depolarised. This means that the inside of the neuron becomes more positive relative to the outside. If the depolarisation reaches a certain threshold, it will trigger an action potential.

During an action potential, the permeability of the neuron's membrane to sodium ions increases, causing them to flow into the neuron. This further depolarises the neuron, causing the action potential to spread along the axon.

When the action potential reaches the end of the axon, it causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the next neuron, causing it to generate its own action potential.

In this way, action potentials allow neurons to communicate with each other over long distances, enabling us to perceive our environment, think, and move.