A nanofluidic spiking synapse

What is it about?

Researchers at Nanjing University have developed a novel nanofluidic device comprising a poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate membrane within the pore of a nanotip. This device could generate electrical patterns that are highly analogous to the behaviors of neurons. In addition to the pulse patterns such as spike-timing-dependent-plasticity, the device could produce transmembrane ionic current-induced spiking comparable to the biological action potentials in terms of phases and tunability.

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Photo by Bhautik Patel on Unsplash

Photo by Bhautik Patel on Unsplash

Why is it important?

From artificial intelligence to brain-like computing, the investigation of the brain and the emulation of its operational mechanisms are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Neurons within the brain communicate with one another via a chemical language-mediated transmembrane spiking behavior. However, the emulation of neuronal spiking using the nanofluidic device, one of the leading contenders in neuromorphic computing, remains a significant challenge. The successful realization of this challenge may further facilitate the development of neuromorphic engineering.