Press Release 2012
Development of Synaptic Devices that change operations in response to their immediate environment
Expectation placed on the development of Neuro-Computers that interact with people and environments
The Atomic Electronics Group, one of the research groups at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)/National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles, has succeeded in the development of synaptic devices with environment-dependent operational characteristics. The research result is expected to contribute to the development of new type of neuro- computers surpassing the capabilities of conventional computers.
Figure 1. (a) In a biological synapse, the arrival of an action potential releases neurotransmitters that assist ion channels for signal transmission. Frequent stimulation by action potential results in a persistent increase in the synaptic connection. (b) Schematic illustration of a Cu2S gap-type atomic switch in sensory memory (SM), short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM) states depending on the interval (T) of the input voltage pulse stimulation.
Further information
Affiliation
Alpana Nayak1, Takeo Ohno1, Tohru Tsuruoka1, Kazuya Terabe1, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa1*, James K. Gimzewsk 2, 3 and Masakazu Aono1
- 1.International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
- 2.Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
- 3.California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
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