Scientists Tout Progress Toward Building Artificial Neurons

The image above depicts an artist's depiction of a carbon nanotube synapse. Image courtesy: Khushnood Irani and Alice Parker.

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have succeeded in creating synthetic neurons using carbon nanotubes. The individual neurons–though primitive–have excitatory and inhibitory synapses. USC professors Alice Parker and Chongwu Zhou are combining these artificial neurons to create a functional circuit model of a small neural network. Parker believes that carbon nanotubes are well suited for emulating brain function because of their unique structure.

The scientist are now building mathematical models to demonstrate how neural connections support communication among neurons. “It’s a nonlinear phenomenon and almost impossible to model but that’s what we’re attempting to do,” Parker says.

This illustration, of organic neurons, shows the major elements involved in chemical synaptic transmission. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

“At this point we still don’t know if building a synthetic brain is feasible,” Parker notes. She says that it may take decades to develop anything close to a human brain, but it may not be long before researchers an emulate parts of it. For instance, she predicts that a synthetic vision system or synthetic cochlea that can interface with the brain may be available soon. And synthetic parts of the brain’s cortex could be available within decades.

Developing a synthetic brain is an entirely different task than developing software with artificial intelligence. One of the most difficult tasks is to emulate brain cells, which can learn through experience and can adapt to changes in their environment.

Scale is also a big hurdle. Using conventional technology, the researchers at USC explain that they would require 100 billion artificial neurons to create an artificial brain that could emulate organic brain function. That number of artificial neurons would fill a large room. “Obviously the technology will have to be downsized to aid a human being or be feasible as a robot brain,” Parker says.

More information is available on the research from The National Science Foundation.

Tags: Alice Parker, artificial brain, artificial neurons, Chongwu Zhou, Nanotechnology and Microtechnology, nanotubes, University of California, USC