Opening and closing ion channels alters the membrane potential In a neuron, the resting membrane potential is closer to the potassium equilibrium potential than it is to the sodium equilibrium potential. That's because the resting membrane is much more permeable to \text K^+ K + start text, K, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript than to \text {Na}^+ Na + start text, N, a, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript . If more potassium channels were to open up—making it even easier for \text{K}^+ K + start text, K, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript to cross the cell membrane—the membrane would hyperpolarize, getting even closer to the potassium equilibrium potential. If, on the other hand, additional sodium channels were to open up—making it easier for \text{Na}^+ Na + start text, N, a, end text, start superscript, plus, end superscript to cross the membrane—the cell membrane would depolarize...