This protein mediates the voltage-dependent sodium ion permeability of excitable membranes. Assuming opened or closed conformations in response to the voltage difference across the membrane, the protein forms a sodium-selective channel through which Na(+) ions may pass in accordance with their electrochemical gradient (PubMed:11834499, PubMed:23420830). It is a tetrodotoxin-resistant Na(+) channel isoform. This channel is responsible for the initial upstroke of the action potential. Channel inactivation is regulated by intracellular calcium levels (By similarity). {By
SimilarityUniProtKB:Q14524, Experimental EvidencePubMed:11834499, Experimental EvidencePubMed:23420830}.