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Presynaptically Silent Synapses Studied with Light Microscopy

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Activating Silent Synapses in Sulfurized Indium Selenide for Neuromorphic Computing.

Song Hao^1,2, Shuai Zhong³, Xinglong Ji³

¹Department of Engineering Product Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, 487372 Singapore.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|December 8, 2021

Summary

Researchers activated silent synapses in artificial neural networks using a simple sulfurization method. This breakthrough enables functional synaptic behaviors crucial for advanced AI hardware and brain evolution research.

Keywords:

In2Se3 artificial synapse memristor silent synapse sulfurization

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence

Background:

Synaptic plasticity is key to brain evolution and artificial neural network (ANN) hardware.
Activating silent synapses in ANNs is a significant challenge for mimicking biological learning.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a simple method for activating silent synapses.
To investigate the mechanism of silent-to-functional synapse transformation.
To demonstrate essential synaptic behaviors in the developed device.

Main Methods:

Controlled sulfurization of chemical vapor deposition-grown indium selenide crystals.
Analysis of sulfur anion migration as the underlying mechanism.
Modulation of synaptic behavior via sulfurization degree and temperature.

Main Results:

Successful activation of silent to functional synapses.
Demonstration of tunable synaptic behaviors based on sulfurization.
Implementation of potentiation/depression, paired-pulse facilitation, and spike-rate-dependent plasticity.

Conclusions:

Controlled sulfurization offers a viable method for silent synapse activation.
This approach provides a new pathway for developing evolutionary ANNs.
The findings contribute to understanding synaptic plasticity and ANN hardware development.