Final answer:
Saltatory conduction is the rapid propagation of action potentials in myelinated neurons, where signals jump between Nodes of Ranvier due to the localized concentration of ion channels, enhancing speed and energy efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of action potential propagation where action potentials are generated only at Nodes of Ranvier is called saltatory conduction. In myelinated neurons, action potentials are only generated at the nodes of Ranvier, resulting in a type of action potential propagation called saltatory conduction. Saltatory conduction is faster than continuous conduction found in unmyelinated axons, as the electrical events seem to 'jump' from one node to the next.
In myelinated neurons, action potentials jump from one node to the next due to the presence of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels localized at these nodes. Myelin acts as an insulator, preventing current from leaking, which allows for this efficient mode of signal transmission. Unmyelinated axons, in contrast, must propagate action potentials continuously along their entire length. The speed and efficiency of saltatory conduction are superior because it ensures rapid signal propagation and also conserves energy, as ion channel activation is needed only at the nodes rather than along the entire axonal membrane.