axoner

Axoner is a term used in speculative neuroscience and science fiction to describe a class of axon-like conduits that transmit neural signals between neurons or between neurons and devices. In this usage, an axoner can be natural, synthetic, or hybrid, designed to extend or bridge neural circuits when ordinary axons are damaged or when interfacing with machines.

Etymology and concept: The name combines "axon" with the agent suffix -er, indicating an entity that performs axonal signaling. The concept appears in theoretical discussions and in speculative literature, with varying definitions across sources.

Design and properties: Proposed axoners include ultrathin conductive fibers or bioengineered segments that support action potential propagation. They are envisioned to have high conduction velocity, biocompatibility, and configurable impedance, and to interface with neural tissue via synapses or nanoelectrodes. Realizations are imagined as either purely synthetic conduits made from graphene or carbon nanotubes, or as biohybrid systems incorporating living neural components.

Applications and status: In fiction and speculative discourse, axoners are proposed to repair damaged circuitry, enable advanced brain–computer interfaces, or serve as building blocks for neuromorphic computing. In actual science, the concept remains hypothetical or exploratory, with ongoing research into neural prosthetics and extracellular recording interfaces addressing related technologies. Ethical and safety considerations are central to discussions of axon-like implants or neural bridges.

See also: Axon; Neural prosthetics; Brain–computer interface; Graphene; Carbon nanotubes.