Hyperpolarized

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to a state where the electric potential of a cell membrane becomes more negative than the resting potential
2. Describing a condition characterized by an increase in polarization, often affecting excitability in cells
3. Pertaining to the process in which cells reach a more extreme polar state, impacting their functional responses

Etymology: "Hyperpolarized" is the past participle of "hyperpolarize," and its history is simply the sum of its two parts. The first part, "hyper-," comes from Ancient Greek "huper," meaning "over" or "beyond," a word that has also given English "hyperbole" and "hyperactive." The second part, "polarize," is an older English formation built on "polar," relating to a pole, which in turn comes from Greek "polos," meaning "axis" or "pivot." The word "hyperpolarize" itself is a modern coinage, formed by attaching the prefix "hyper-" to "polarize." "Polarize" originally described the physical alignment of light waves and later came to describe the separation of electric charges or magnetic poles. Adding "hyper-" signals an extension beyond the usual degree of that separation, so the term is used in physics, chemistry, and neuroscience to describe a state where a cell membrane or other system has been driven further than its normal resting charge.