Artificial neurons hailed as major breakthrough

The research, which has major implications for medical science, began with mathematical modelling to explain how neurons respond to electrical stimuli from other nerves. They then designed silicon chips that accurately modelled biological ion channels, before proving that their artificial neurons precisely mimicked real, living neurons responding to a range of stimulations. Published in Nature Communications, the work could lead to new types of treatments for conditions ranging from heart failure to Alzheimer’s.

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“Until now neurons have been like black boxes, but we have managed to open the black box and peer inside,” said research lead Professor Alain Nogaret, from Bath University's Department of Physics. “Our work is paradigm-changing because it provides a robust method to reproduce the electrical properties of real neurons in minute detail.

“But it’s wider than that, because our neurons only need 140 nanoWatts of power. That’s a billionth the power requirement of a microprocessor, which other attempts to make synthetic neurons have used. This makes the neurons well suited for bio-electronic implants to treat chronic diseases.