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Related Concept Videos

Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

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Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
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The Synapse02:47

The Synapse

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Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
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Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

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A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
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Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

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Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

Synaptic Signaling

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
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Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

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Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Assembly and Characterization of Biomolecular Memristors Consisting of Ion Channel-doped Lipid Membranes
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Analog Nanoscale Electro-Optical Synapses for Neuromorphic Computing Applications.

Kevin Portner1, Manuel Schmuck1, Paul Lehmann1

  • 1Integrated Systems Laboratory, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.

ACS Nano
|August 30, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Light irradiation improves the performance of synaptic memristors for deep neural networks. This photonic/plasmonic integration enhances memristor symmetry and accuracy in neuromorphic computing applications.

Keywords:
electro-optical synapsememristornear-field transducerneuromorphic computingresistive switchingsilicon photonicssurface plasmons

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Electrical Engineering

Background:

  • Synaptic memristors exhibit nonlinear and asymmetric responses, hindering accurate deep neural network (DNN) realization.
  • Valence Change Memory (VCM) devices are crucial for neuromorphic computing but face challenges in precise synaptic emulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of light irradiation on VCM memristor switching properties.
  • To enhance the accuracy and efficiency of memristor-based DNNs through optical modulation.
  • To propose a scalable electro-optical technology for neuromorphic computing.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of a two-terminal VCM memristor into a photonic/plasmonic circuit.
  • Application of light irradiation as an independent modulation channel for the VCM.
  • Characterization of memristor switching properties under optical and electrical stimuli.
  • Simulation of a neural network using measured VCM conductance modulation data.

Main Results:

  • Light irradiation induced more gradual and symmetric switching in VCM memristors.
  • Optical input locally heated the device, enhancing oxygen vacancy generation and conductive filament broadening.
  • MNIST handwritten digit recognition accuracy improved to 93.53% with light, compared to 67.37% without.
  • Energy consumption increased by only 3.2% with the optical signal.

Conclusions:

  • Photonic/plasmonic integration offers a viable method to improve memristor-based neuromorphic computing.
  • Light-enhanced VCM memristors achieve high recognition accuracy with minimal energy overhead.
  • The proposed electro-optical approach is scalable for developing high-density, energy-efficient neuromorphic chips.