Question

Dr. Clark Kent studies reflex timing in mice. He believes that the timing of the reflex is limited by the conduction velocity of action potentials along the neurons.   He plans to genetically alter the mice to make super mice that have faster than normal reflexes. Please describe three changes he can make which will increase the conduction velocity of action potentials.

Answer 1

The conduction velocity of the neurons depends on how fast the nerve impulse can travel through the neuron to its respective target.

1. One way of improving the conduction velocity is increasing the diameter of the axon, which effectively decreases the internal resistance. These type of axons can be seen in giant squids where they have long axons with increased diameter.

2. The second way of increasing the conduction velocity is by insulating the axon by a myelin sheath. Gaps present in the axons between two myelin sheath are called nodes of Ranvier where the nerve impulse shows a saltatory movement jumping from node to another. More myelin sheath prevents the loss of impulse during the conduction process and also insulates the nerve fibers.