Optimal solid state neurons

Nat Commun. 2019 Dec 3;10(1):5309. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-13177-3.

Abstract

Bioelectronic medicine is driving the need for neuromorphic microcircuits that integrate raw nervous stimuli and respond identically to biological neurons. However, designing such circuits remains a challenge. Here we estimate the parameters of highly nonlinear conductance models and derive the ab initio equations of intracellular currents and membrane voltages embodied in analog solid-state electronics. By configuring individual ion channels of solid-state neurons with parameters estimated from large-scale assimilation of electrophysiological recordings, we successfully transfer the complete dynamics of hippocampal and respiratory neurons in silico. The solid-state neurons are found to respond nearly identically to biological neurons under stimulation by a wide range of current injection protocols. The optimization of nonlinear models demonstrates a powerful method for programming analog electronic circuits. This approach offers a route for repairing diseased biocircuits and emulating their function with biomedical implants that can adapt to biofeedback.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Stem / physiology
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Male
  • Models, Neurological
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Respiration

Substances

  • Ion Channels