Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches
Published on: August 4, 2014
An analog circuit implementation of a quadratic integrate and fire neuron
Eric J Basham1, David W Parent
1University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA. basham.eric@gmail.com
Abstract:
Silicon neurons are of importance both to implement hybrid electronic-biological system as well as to develop fundamental understanding of the neurobiological systems they emulate. We have implemented a hardware version of the quadratic integrate and fire neural model. The quadratic integrate and fire neuron differs from the more common integrate and fire neuron in that the model, and thus the hardware, intrinsically generate spikes. Readily available discrete surface mount components are used to make the hardware available to a wider audience and facilitate experimentation.
Related Concept Videos
Neural Circuits
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.
Integrator and Differentiator
An integrator within an op-amp circuit produces an output directly proportional to the integral of the input signal. This is achieved by replacing the feedback resistor in a typical inverting...
Integration of Synaptic Events
Neurons: The Axon
The axon attaches to the cell body at a cone-shaped elevation called the axon hillock. The initial part of the axon, closest to the hillock, is known as the initial segment.
Operational Amplifiers

