The first experimental evidence for brain-like computing utilizing water and salt has been achieved by a collaboration between theoretical physicists at Utrecht University and experimental physicists at Sogang University in South Korea. Their groundbreaking work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, marks a milestone in the development of artificial synapses capable of processing complex information.
In the quest to enhance the energy efficiency of conventional computers, scientists have drawn inspiration from the human brain, aiming to replicate its remarkable capacity. Traditional binary processing has given way to analog methods resembling the brain’s operations. However, most current brain-inspired computers rely on solid materials rather than the medium of water and dissolved salt ions, which our brains use.
This raises the intriguing possibility of achieving a more faithful replication of brain functionality by adopting the same medium. This concept lies at the core of inotropic neuromorphic computing, a burgeoning field.
In their recent study, researchers have, for the first time, demonstrated a system dependent on water and salt capable of processing intricate information, mimicking the brain’s functionality. Central to this achievement is a minute device mimicking the behavior of a synapse, a crucial component in signal transmission between neurons.
The device, called an inotropic memristor, consists of a cone-shaped microchannel filled with a solution of water and salt. When receiving electrical impulses, ions migrate through the channel, altering ion concentration. This adjustment in conductivity mirrors the strengthening or weakening of connections between neurons, providing a measurable representation of the input signal.
An intriguing finding is that the length of the channel impacts the duration of concentration changes, suggesting the potential for tailored channels to retain and process information for varying durations, akin to synaptic mechanisms observed in the brain.
The genesis of this discovery traces back to an idea by Tim Kassam, a Ph.D. candidate at Utrecht University, who transformed it into a theoretical model. Collaborating with researchers in South Korea, experimental work swiftly ensued, culminating in results aligning closely with Kassam’s predictions.
Kamsma emphasizes the foundational nature of the research, envisioning a future where ionotropic neuromorphic computing leads to vastly more efficient and energy-conscious computer systems. While speculative, this publication represents a significant step toward realizing this vision, potentially paving the way for computing systems that faithfully replicate the extraordinary capabilities of the human brain.