How do nerves send messages so quickly?

Nerve cells communicate by changing electrical charge across their membranes, creating an action potential. That signal moves along the neuron and is passed to the next cell at synapses using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Myelin, a fatty insulating layer around some nerve fibers, makes signals travel much faster by helping them jump between gaps in the insulation. Sensory nerves can carry information from the skin to the brain in fractions of a second. This speed is what lets you react quickly to touch, pain, and movement.