Scientists have been dreaming about recreating the human brain for ages, now a new microchip is bringing them a step closer. The "neuromorphic" chip imitates the brain's information processing system in real time.
The researchers created electronic circuits similar to that brain in size, energy consumption and speed, a University of Zurich press release reported.
"Our goal is to emulate the properties of biological neurons and synapses directly on microchips," Giacomo Indiveri, a professor at the Institute of Neuroinformatics at the university, said.
The team worked to create networks of the artificial neuromorphic neurons able to accomplish specific tasks.
They demonstrated a task requiring "short-term memory and context-dependent decision-making" skills, which are generally needed for cognitive tests.
"The network connectivity patterns closely resemble structures that are also found in mammalian brains," Indiveri said.
The scientists succeeded in developing a revolutionary system that demonstrates "how a real-time hardware neural-processing system where the user dictates the behavior can be constructed. "
"Thanks to our method, neuromorphic chips can be configured for a large class of behavior modes. Our results are pivotal for the development of new brain-inspired technologies," Indiveri said.
The researchers next steps will be to assign the chips even more complex tasks.
The study published by the National Academy of Science said they hoped to one day connect the chip to sensory systems, such as an artificial retina, PC Tech reported.
Researchers at Monash University have actually been working on a bionic eye that hooks up to the subject's brain.
The user will wear a pair of "sunglasses" that have a built in camera, the device will send pictures wirelessly to a chip implanted in the back of the brain.
The chip "directly stimulate[s] the visual cortex of the brain with electrical signals using an array of micro-sized electrodes -the brain will learn to interpret these signals as sight."
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