Nerve Impulse Speed: How Fast Does Your Brain Communicate?

Nerve impulses can travel at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour (400 kilometers per hour) in myelinated neurons. Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds the axons of some neurons, acting like an insulator and allowing for faster transmission of electrical signals. In unmyelinated neurons, nerve impulses travel at speeds of around 1-2 miles per hour (2-3 kilometers per hour).