Nerve impulses race at speeds up to 268 miles per hour

Your body's nerve impulses, or action potentials, are electrical signals that transmit information at incredible speeds. The fastest human impulses can zoom up to 120 meters per second, which is about 268 miles per hour! This rapid pace is thanks to large, myelinated nerve fibers, like those in your sciatic nerve, where a fatty sheath acts like insulation, letting signals jump quickly.