Brain functions are made possible
by circuits of spiking neurons, connected together by microscopic, but highly
complex links called synapses. In this new study, published in the scientific
journal Nature Scientific Reports, the scientists created a
hybrid neural network where biological and artificial neurons in different
parts of the world were able to communicate with each other over the internet
through a hub of artificial synapses made using cutting-edge nanotechnology.
This is the first time the three components have come together in a unified
network.
During the
study, researchers based at the University of Padova in Italy cultivated rat
neurons in their laboratory, whilst partners from the University of Zurich and
ETH Zurich created artificial neurons on Silicon microchips. The virtual
laboratory was brought together via an elaborate setup controlling
nanoelectronic synapses developed at the University of Southampton. These
synaptic devices are known as memristors.
The Southampton
based researchers captured spiking events being sent over the internet from the
biological neurons in Italy and then distributed them to the memristive
synapses. Responses were then sent onward to the artificial neurons in Zurich
also in the form of spiking activity. The process simultaneously works in
reverse too; from Zurich to Padova. Thus, artificial and biological neurons
were able to communicate bidirectionally and in real time.
Themis
Prodromakis, Professor of Nanotechnology and Director of the Centre for
Electronics Frontiers at the University of Southampton said “One of the biggest
challenges in conducting research of this kind and at this level has been
integrating such distinct cutting edge technologies and specialist expertise
that are not typically found under one roof. By creating a virtual lab we have
been able to achieve this.”
The researchers
now anticipate that their approach will ignite interest from a range of
scientific disciplines and accelerate the pace of innovation and scientific
advancement in the field of neural interfaces research. In particular, the
ability to seamlessly connect disparate technologies across the globe is a step
towards the democratisation of these technologies, removing a significant
barrier to collaboration.
Professor
Prodromakis added “We are very excited with this new development. On one side
it sets the basis for a novel scenario that was never encountered during
natural evolution, where biological and artificial neurons are linked together
and communicate across global networks; laying the foundations for the Internet
of Neuro-electronics. On the other hand, it brings new prospects to
neuroprosthetic technologies, paving the way towards research into replacing
dysfunctional parts of the brain with AI chips.”
Journal article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-58831-9
No comments:
Post a Comment