Saltatory conduction

[citation needed] In the CNS, nerve cells have been shown to individually alter the size of the nodes to tune conduction speeds.

[2] In addition to increasing the speed of the nerve impulse, the myelin sheath helps in reducing energy expenditure over the axon membrane as a whole, because the amount of sodium and potassium ions that need to be pumped to bring the concentrations back to the resting state following each action potential is decreased.

[8] In 1939, Ichiji Tasaki discovered saltatory conduction through experiments on isolated single-nerve fibers of the Japanese Toad.

[10] During World War II, Tasaki was not able to publish in American journals and had to send manuscripts to Germany via the Siberian railroad.

[11] Bernhard Frankenhaeuser proved that this was true in undissected frog nerves as well, ending scholarly debate.