USC Engineers Create Functioning Synapse Using Carbon Nanotubes

Electrical engineers at the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California have developed an electrical circuit that reproduces the function of a synapse in the brain. Even more impressive, they’ve managed to make it out of carbon nanotubes, the extremely tiny structures that are becoming all the rage in the area of small-scale electronic circuits and semiconductors. It’s a huge milestone in a long and complex project that seeks to create a fully synthetic brain. Back in 2006, Alice Walker, a professor of electrical engineering and project leader, presented the challenge to build a circuit that acts like a neuron.
While the goal has been reached, there’s still a lot of research that needs to be done in order to create something on the scale of a brain. USC Viterbi researchers are currently investigating how to reproduce brain plasticity, the phenomenon by which the brain produces new neurons and adapts throughout life. In addition, there’s also the issue of fabricating and creating large networks of the synthetic synapses. Smaller networks of the synthetic neurons, though, could be useful in creating powerful and more intelligent brain prostheses.
Press release: Researchers create functioning synapse using carbon nanotubes
More information from USC: The BioRC Biomimetic Real-Time Cortex Project