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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy
Published on: January 5, 2010
Silicon synaptic conductances
1Institut für Neuroinformatik (ETHZ/UNIZ), Zürich, Switzerland. chris@ini.phys.ethz.ch
Abstract:
We have developed compact analog integrated circuits that simulate two synaptic excitatory conductances. A four-transistor circuit captures the dynamics of an excitatory postsynaptic current caused by a real AMPA conductance. A six-transistor circuit simulates the effects of a real voltage-dependent NMDA conductance. The postsynaptic current dynamics are modeled by a current mirror integrator with adjustable gain. The voltage dependence of the silicon NMDA conductance is realized by a differential pair. We show the operation of these silicon synaptic conductances and their integration with the silicon neuron (Mahowald and Douglas, 1991).
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