impulse

the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber

“they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus”

an impelling force or strength

a sudden desire

“he bought it on an impulse”

the act of applying force suddenly

“the impulse knocked him over”

an instinctive motive

“profound religious impulses”

a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)