electrical transmission

The nervous system uses electrical signals for transmitting information. These signals, called action potentials, are electrical in nature and are carried by ions, not electrons. When an action potential reaches the end of a neuron, it can be transmitted to another cell through either electrical or chemical means.1234

Electrical transmission occurs through gap junctions, which are protein channels directly connecting adjacent neurons. This allows ions to flow between cells with minimal delay, synchronizing the response of neuron groups. This method is less common than chemical transmission and is found in invertebrates, lower vertebrates, and some mammals.1

Chemical transmission involves neurotransmitters crossing a gap to stimulate the next cell. Local potentials, like receptor potentials and postsynaptic potentials, are electrical responses that can trigger an action potential if they reach a sufficient amplitude. The speed of conduction depends on factors like nerve fiber diameter, temperature, and myelination.1523