Bio‐Voltage Memristors: From Physical Mechanisms to Neuromorphic Interfaces

Abstract

With the rapid development of emerging artificial intelligence technology, brain–computer interfaces are gradually moving from science fiction to reality, which has broad application prospects in the field of intelligent robots. Looking for devices that can connect and communicate with living biological tissues is expected to realize brain–computer interfaces and biological integration interfaces. Brain‐like neuromorphic devices based on memristors may have profound implications for bridging electronic neuromorphic and biological nervous systems. Ultra‐low working voltage is required if memristors are to be connected directly to biological nerve signals. Therefore, inspired by the high‐efficient computing and low power consumption of biological brain, memristors directly driven by the electrical signaling requirements of biological systems (bio‐voltage) are not only meaningful for low power neuromorphic computing but also very suitable to facilitate the integrated interactions with living biological cells. Herein, attention is focused on a detailed analysis of a rich variety of physical mechanisms underlying the various switching behaviors of bio‐voltage memristors. Next, the development of bio‐voltage memristors, from simulating artificial synaptic and neuronal functions to broad application prospects based on neuromorphic computing and bio‐electronic interfaces, is further reviewed. Furthermore, the challenges and the outlook of bio‐voltage memristors over the research field are discussed.

Advances in memristor based artificial neuron fabrication-materials, models, and applications

“…Bio-memristors are often adopted to emulate the biological functions of neurons, and are used in the construction of SNNs [47,[159][160][161]. Artificial neurons built from bio-memristors not only operate on the scale of biological action potentials, but also exhibit temporal integration properties that are similar to those observed in biological neurons [162][163][164].…”

Electrochemical‐Memristor‐Based Artificial Neurons and Synapses—Fundamentals, Applications, and Challenges

“…[48,[69][70][71] The physical mechanisms of memristive behavior and applications of memristive devices as artificial neurons and synapses in artificial neural networks and as building units for in-memory computing have been summarized in previous work. [55,[72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82] Here, the fundamental physical chemical mechanisms, device behavior, and implementation of neuronal and synaptic plasticity using memristive devices have been introduced in more detail. Specially, this review aims to present in a comprehensive matter the fundamentals and basic functions of biological and artificial neurons and synapses and discuss the driving forces beyond their operation.…”