New wave-type mechanism of saltatory conduction in myelinated axons and micro-saltatory conduction in C fibres

We present a new wave-type model of saltatory conduction in myelinated axons. Poor conductivity in the neuron cytosol limits electrical current signal velocity according to cable theory, to 1–3 m/s, whereas saltatory conduction occurs with a velocity of 100–300 m/s. We propose a wave-type mechanism for saltatory conduction in the form of the kinetics of an ionic plasmon-polariton being the hybrid of the electro-magnetic wave and of the synchronized ionic plasma oscillations in myelinated segments along an axon. The model agrees with observations and allows for description of the regulatory role of myelin. It explains also the mechanism of conduction deficiency in demyelination syndromes such as multiple sclerosis. The recently observed micro-saltatory conduction in ultrathin unmyelinated C fibers with periodic ion gate clusters is also explained. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00249-020-01442-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.