text: whats the difference between conduction in an axon and conduction in a dendrite? are signals conducted the same way?   (active conduction using ion channels is the way signals carry along axons, but what about along dendrites?) it has been a long time from my neurobiology days.  axons do not modify or change a signal and often propagate a signal by saltatory conduction with the use of myelin and active ion channels.   dendrites modify the relative importance of signals by the integration of various imputs. this is accomplished in the simpliest way by a passive electrical system. the further out the input is in the dentritic tree the less it contributes.