Scientists reported a breakthrough: printed artificial neurons were able to directly exchange signals with living brain cells, which could speed up the development of neural interfaces and new energy-efficient computing systems.
Engineers at Northwestern University have developed flexible artificial neurons that can not only reproduce the electrical activity of nerve cells, but also directly interact with them, writes xrust. In experiments, the devices successfully triggered reactions in brain tissue, demonstrating a new level of integration of electronics and biology.
According to researchers, artificial elements generate signals that are as close as possible to those that arise in living neurons. This allowed them to activate neural circuits in mouse brain slices, confirming the technology's functional compatibility with biological systems.
The development brings closer the creation of brain-computer interfaces and neuroprostheses that could potentially restore lost functions — from hearing to motor skills. In addition, scientists believe that such solutions could form the basis of a new generation of low-power computing systems.
Researchers note that modern silicon chips are built from billions of the same type of transistors and remain unchanged after production. In contrast, the brain is a dynamic, three-dimensional network of diverse neurons that can adapt and learn.
To get closer to such an architecture, the team used soft printed materials. The technology is based on electronic “ink” made from nanoparticles of molybdenum disulfide and graphene, deposited on flexible polymer substrates using aerosol printing.
Interestingly, the polymer component was previously considered undesirable due to deterioration in conductivity. In the new approach, scientists, on the contrary, used it to form narrow conducting channels capable of generating impulses similar to neural ones.
The created devices demonstrate a wide range of activity — from single pulses to complex series of signals. This allows you to perform more complex tasks with fewer elements and reduces energy costs.
To test the functionality, engineers collaborated with neuroscientists using slices of the cerebellum of mice. The results showed that the artificial impulses matched key characteristics of biological signals and effectively triggered neural responses.
In addition to functional advantages, the technology is cost-effective. The additive printing process reduces material consumption and simplifies production.
The developers emphasize that increasing energy efficiency is becoming critically important amid growing workloads in the field of artificial intelligence. Data centers already require significant amounts of power and cooling resources today, and new solutions can alleviate some of this burden.
Based on materials from https://www.sciencedaily
Xrust Artificial neurons “talked” to living brain cells for the first time
