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<DIV>From <A
href="http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/2004/02/19/353584-cp.html">CNEWS</A>:
Researchers at the University of Calgary have found that nerve cells grown on a
microchip can learn and memorize information which can be communicated to the
brain. This is a giant leap in answering several fundamental questions of
biology and neuro-electronics that will pave the way for us to harness the power
of nanotechnology. The findings could help in the design of devices that combine
electronic components and brain cells. That includes controlling artificial
limbs or restoring sight for the visually impaired. Future research will focus
on interfacing silicon chips with the human brain to control artificial limbs
and develop "thinking" computers. <BR>The article was published on Physical
Review Letters, February 2004, as "<A
href="http://scitation.aip.org/vsearch/servlet/VerityServlet?KEY=PRLTAO&ONLINE=YES&smode=strresults&sort=rel&maxdisp=25&threshold=0&allprl=1&pjournals=PRLTAO&possible1=syed&possible1zone=author&OUTLOG=NO&key=DISPLAY&docID=1&page=1&chapter=0">Neuron-Semiconductor
Chip with Chemical Synapse between Identified Neurons</A>". Abstract:
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.</DIV></BODY></HTML>