Noninvasive electrical stimulation and recording of neuronal networks from semiconductor chips is a prerequisite for the development of neuroelectronic devices. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we implemented the fundamental element of such future hybrids by joining a silicon chip with an excitatory chemical synapse between a pair of identified neurons from the pond snail. We stimulated the presynaptic cell (VD4) with a chip capacitor and recorded the activity of the postsynaptic cell (LPeD1) with a transistor. We enhanced the strength of the soma-soma synapse by repetitive capacitor stimulation, establishing a neuronal memory on the silicon chip.
Silicon chip with synapse. (a) Hybrid device with capacitor (C), chemical synapse and transistor (gate G, source S, drain D). Not on scale. (b) Micrograph with presynaptic VD4 neuron (left) and postsynaptic LPeD1 neuron (right) from Lymnaea stagnalis on a linear array of capacitors and transistors. Scale bar 20 µm.
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