Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Neuron communication speed refers to the rate at which electrical signals travel along neurons. It is influenced by factors such as axon diameter, presence of myelin sheath, and efficiency of synaptic transmission.
An action potential is a brief electrical impulse or spike that travels along the axon of a neuron, resulting in the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse.
Saltatory Conduction: Saltatory conduction refers to how electrical impulses "jump" from one node of Ranvier (unmyelinated region) to another in myelinated axons, significantly increasing their speed compared to non-myelinated axons.
Synaptic transmission is the process by which information is passed from one neuron to another across a synapse using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.