due to the massive amount of neurons in the brain, how is it possible that electrical signals don’t crosspost (don’t mind if I do) from one axon to another?

Question

Electrical signals are transmitted in the most superficial outer layer of the axon (along the myelin sheath) or, at least, that’s what I’ve been told at school.

Is this (if any, ofc) one of the reasons why human thinking is so complex?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Yes, it is believed that the signals from one neuron’s axon may influence other neurons. It is known as ephaptic coupling. However, this type of “crosstalk” does not mean that action potentials can jump between axons, it is a relatively weak signal. It is thought that this type of interaction might be able to slightly shift the timing of a neuron’s firing (as opposed to being strong enough to make it fire when it otherwise wouldn’t have).

As an aside, you mentioned something about action potentials traveling along the myelin, which is not quite correct. Action potentials are generated/renewed on the neuron’s surface (only on the unmyelinated parts, which is why myelinated neurons have regular gaps in the myelin), then propagated along the inside of the axon.