Which agents increase the speed of nerve impulses?

Which agents increase the speed of nerve impulses?

• A. Stimulant drugs and nerve gases
• B. Alcohol
• C. Sleep
• D. None

Answer: (A)

The idea is how certain agents change how quickly nerve signals are transmitted. Stimulant drugs boost neural activity by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine and by lowering the threshold for firing. That means neurons fire more readily and more often, so signals propagate through neural networks more quickly in practice. Nerve gases inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing acetylcholine to accumulate at synapses and neuromuscular junctions. This keeps the signaling process active longer and more vigorously, leading to faster transmission of impulses in the pathways they affect. Alcohol generally dampens nervous system activity and slows transmission, while sleep alters processing without increasing the speed of nerve signaling. So those options don’t fit as well as stimulants and nerve gases.

The idea is how certain agents change how quickly nerve signals are transmitted. Stimulant drugs boost neural activity by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine and by lowering the threshold for firing. That means neurons fire more readily and more often, so signals propagate through neural networks more quickly in practice. Nerve gases inhibit acetylcholinesterase, causing acetylcholine to accumulate at synapses and neuromuscular junctions. This keeps the signaling process active longer and more vigorously, leading to faster transmission of impulses in the pathways they affect.

Alcohol generally dampens nervous system activity and slows transmission, while sleep alters processing without increasing the speed of nerve signaling. So those options don’t fit as well as stimulants and nerve gases.