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TECHFIND - DATAPROCESSING
Computing that Mimic the Human Brain
French researchers have developed a hybrid nanoparticle-organic transistor that can mimic the main functionalities of a synapse; a structure in the nervous system that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell. The artificial synapse is based on a pentacene and gold nanoparticle structure called NOMFET - Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field Effect Transistor. When electric charges flow through the NOMFET, they behave in the same manner as neurotransmitters do when passing through a synapse in the human brain. In the artificial structure, the presynaptic signal is the pulse voltage applied on the NOMFET and the output signal is the drain current. The inhibited neurotransmitters in the NOMFET are the charge carriers in the p-type organic semiconductor (also known as holes). The number of holes is dependent on the input spike voltage and the output current. The more holes available, the more current passes through NOMFET. The artificial synapse is one of the first demonstrations of a single electronic device that can mimic the short term plasticity property of the biological spiking synapse. The human brain has about 10,000 fold more synapses than neurons and thus scientists have to make nanoscale synapse-like devices which can be scaled up to read the capacity of those in the brain. Future applications include increasing the performances of neural-network computing circuits and nanodevice fabrication.
Media Spiders®
French researchers have developed a hybrid nanoparticle-organic transistor that can mimic the main functionalities of a synapse; a structure in the nervous system that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell. The artificial synapse is based on a pentacene and gold nanoparticle structure called NOMFET - Nanoparticle Organic Memory Field Effect Transistor. When electric charges flow through the NOMFET, they behave in the same manner as neurotransmitters do when passing through a synapse in the human brain. In the artificial structure, the presynaptic signal is the pulse voltage applied on the NOMFET and the output signal is the drain current. The inhibited neurotransmitters in the NOMFET are the charge carriers in the p-type organic semiconductor (also known as holes). The number of holes is dependent on the input spike voltage and the output current. The more holes available, the more current passes through NOMFET. The artificial synapse is one of the first demonstrations of a single electronic device that can mimic the short term plasticity property of the biological spiking synapse. The human brain has about 10,000 fold more synapses than neurons and thus scientists have to make nanoscale synapse-like devices which can be scaled up to read the capacity of those in the brain. Future applications include increasing the performances of neural-network computing circuits and nanodevice fabrication.
