When an excitatory message reaches the dendrites, the cell becomes and the likelihood of a nerve impulse is

Messages arriving at dendrites can have two possible effects on cells: they can activate them, or inhibit them. When a nerve cell is activated, the probability that the nerve will fire an impulse is increased; when a nerve cell is inhibited, it decreases the likelihood that the cell will produce a nerve impulse.

Which of these two possible settings is most consistent with the term, "excitatory message?"