# The biological background of spiking neurons A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information based on electrical and chemical signals. Chemical signaling takes place by means of a synapse - a special connection between other cells. Neurons form neural networks through connections with each other. The computer communicates using bits, neurons using excitement. The incoming signal changes the "membrane potential" of the neuron, and when it reaches a certain value, the neuron sends a signal in the form of a spike. **Author note: Soon to be completed** --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://wiki.neuromorphics.eu/basics-of-the-neuromorphic-systems/the-biological-background-of-spiking-neurons.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.