Question

Impulse transmission across an electrical synapse compared to chemical synapse is always:

• A. Faster
• B. Slower
• C. Intermittent
• D. Continuous

Answer 1

The correct option is A Faster

Neurons communicate with one another at junctions called synapses. Electrical synapses are found in nervous system. Chemical synapses are specialized junctions through which cells of the nervous system signal to one another and to non-neuronal cells such as muscles or glands.

The main difference between chemical synapse and electrical synapse is that in a chemical synapse, the nerve impulse passes chemically by means of neurotransmitter whereas an electrical synapse is connected through channel proteins.
Nerve impulses pass through the membrane of the axon as an electrical signal. This electrical signal is converted into a chemical signal at a chemical synapse. But in an electrical synapse, the impulse can be transmitted as it is by means of ions. Therefore, electrical synapses are much faster than the chemical synapses.