A memristor between two neurons

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Neurons

Signal pathway from a presynaptic neuron through a memristor to a receiving neuron A multipolar presynaptic neuron sends a spike along its axon to an axon terminal. An electrode at the terminal carries the presynaptic voltage to a memristor. A second electrode carries the resulting current into a dendrite of a multipolar receiving neuron.

Inside the device

Input neuronMemristorOutput neuron voltageno current
applied voltage0.00 V internal state0.00 conductance0.60 nS output current0.0 pA

The aligned traces

presynaptic voltage, sampled at 20 kHz device conductance postsynaptic current receiving-neuron voltage postsynaptic action potential

Sequence

Step 1 Presynaptic voltage

The input neuron sends a voltage waveform to the sampling electrode.

Step 2 Voltage across the device

The interface applies the sampled voltage across the memristor.

Step 3 Conductance increases

Voltage increases the model’s internal state and conductance.

Step 4 Postsynaptic current

Conductance and neuron voltage set the injected current. Current continues between spikes.

Step 5 Receiving neuron may spike

The receiving neuron fires when its voltage reaches −36 mV.