Spintronics as a Neurotechnique

Abstract

Understanding the brain as a complex system is the current problem and challenge in multi-disciplinary science. To this end, finding new techniques to touch many un-known mechanisms inside the brain via observations and measurements are circumventing different neurotechniques today. One possible technique toward this purpose is based on sensing the magnetic field of neurons with spintronics devices, given that neurons are sources of magnetic fields. Additionally, correlation of individual neuron's magnetic field to the magnetic field of many neurons is not very clear. In this paper, we shortly review the application of spintronics as one branch of nanotechnology for neural magnetic field detection. The major spintronics elements that can be implemented for the neural field detection nominated the magneto resistance (MR) will be introduced. Electronic properties of such a device will be reviewed and its technical issues such as magnetic coupling between layers and their materials and thickness dependence toward achieving high sensitive elements will be shortly addressed. Such elements can be implemented to measure the magnetic field of small neuron population down to individual neuron. Potential applications of spintronics elements for neural magnetic field detection toward the completion of the neuroscience will be addressed.