SIGNAL SPEED MATTERS
Think of unmyelinated neurons like dirt roads and myelinated ones like paved highways.
Cars can travel a lot faster on a smooth paved highway than on a bumpy dirt road.
- Nerves transmit electrical signals.
- These signals travel much faster when a neuron is myelinated.
- The signals also don’t spread to neighboring neurons when there’s myelin.
- It’s also why device chargers are coated in plastic: no shock when you touch them.
Watch the 4 minute video below from Dr. Dan Siegel to learn more about pruning and myelination:
If you have an extra 4 minutes, watch this video from the Decision Education Foundation to learn why it can be a good thing for teens to make risky decisions.
