Functioning Synapse Created Using Carbon Nanotubes: Might Be Used in ...Synthetic Brains

Science Daily ^ | Apr. 22, 2011 | Staff

[Red Badger]

Engineering researchers the University of Southern California have made a significant breakthrough in the use of nanotechnologies for the construction of a synthetic brain. They have built a carbon nanotube synapse circuit whose behavior in tests reproduces the function of a neuron, the building block of the brain.

The team, which was led by Professor Alice Parker and Professor Chongwu Zhou in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, used an interdisciplinary approach combining circuit design with nanotechnology to address the complex problem of capturing brain function.

In a paper published in the proceedings of the IEEE/NIH 2011 Life Science Systems and Applications Workshop in April 2011, the Viterbi team detailed how they were able to use carbon nanotubes to create a synapse.

Carbon nanotubes are molecular carbon structures that are extremely small, with a diameter a million times smaller than a pencil point. These nanotubes can be used in electronic circuits, acting as metallic conductors or semiconductors.

"This is a necessary first step in the process," said Parker, who began the looking at the possibility of developing a synthetic brain in 2006. "We wanted to answer the question: Can you build a circuit that would act like a neuron? The next step is even more complex. How can we build structures out of these circuits that mimic the function of the brain, which has 100 billion neurons and 10,000 synapses per neuron?"

[Red Badger]

There's HOPE for Democrats, yet............

[Gondring]

Carbon nanotubes are the future, for sure.

[ClearCase_guy]

Skynet

[GraceG]

We are a long way away from making a synthetic brain.

[Red Badger]

They’re like Globull Warming....They can do ANYTHING!..............

[Viking2002]

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Gondring]

I want the Space Elevator.

[Pit1]

Send those nano’s to DC. They all could use some.

[2nd Amendment]

you beat me too it! several million democrats in line to receive artificial brain!

[antiRepublicrat]

Synthetic brains will be useful during the next zombie outbreak.

[Red Badger]

I don’t know if zombies like synthetic brains.........................

[garjog]

"100 billion neurons and 10,000 synapses per neuron?"

OK, so we have one artificial neuron. Just need 100 billion more and bingo.