Learning in ensembles of proteinoid microspheres

R Soc Open Sci. 2023 Oct 11;10(10):230936. doi: 10.1098/rsos.230936. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Proteinoids are thermal proteins which form microspheres in water in the presence of salt. Ensembles of proteinoid microspheres exhibit passive nonlinear electrical properties and active neuron-like spiking of electrical potential. We propose that various neuromorphic computing architectures can be prototyped from the proteinoid microspheres. A key feature of a neuromorphic system is a learning. Through the use of optical and resistance measurements, we study mechanisms of learning in ensembles of proteinoid microspheres. We analyse 16 types of proteinoids study and their intrinsic morphology and electrical properties. We demonstrate that proteinoids can learn, memorize and habituate, making them a promising candidate for novel computing.

Keywords: microspheres; proteinoids; thermal proteins; unconventional computing.

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.mgqnk994r