Nanotechnology

A recent breakthrough in the development of an artificial synapse suggests that assistive devices and other prostheses might soon be possible for the brain via nanotechnology. Scientists in Japan have shown that it's possible to mimic synaptic function with nanotechnology, a breakthrough that could result in not only artificial neural networks, but fixes for the human brain as well.

The synapse is the basic unit of inter-neural communication. Up until now, representing a synapse by a single device is a challenging technical problem bridging the intersection between nanotechnology, neuroscience and artificial intelligence. The structure of a biological synapse is very complex, with hundreds of proteins and other chemicals interacting in a complicated manner; nevertheless, there is always a gap (synaptic cleft) across which a signal is transmitted.

Now, new breakthrough research looks to reproduce a synapse using a single solid-state electrochemical nanodevice called a Cu2S-gap type atomic switch. The research is published in Advanced Functional Materials.  
In this device, there is a gap which is bridged by a copper filament under a voltage pulse stimulation. This causes a change in conductance which is time-dependent. The change in conductance can be considered to be analogous to the change in strength of a biological synaptic connection.

The device can be considered to mimic the major features of the human memory; namely, the sensory, short-term, and long-term memories. In addition, the fact that it responses to the presence of air and the change in temperature enables it to be distinguished as an advanced synthetic synapse with the potential to perceive environment, just like the human brain.

Moreover, the device may lead to brain-machine interfaces, neural implants and other potential neural prosthetics to treat disease and handicaps, or even to extend human capabilities.  


SOURCE  Materials Views

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