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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

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Real-time Electrophysiology: Using Closed-loop Protocols to Probe Neuronal Dynamics and Beyond
Published on: June 24, 2015
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Recent progress in proton involvement and coupling for bio-realistic synaptic devices
Yubeen Park1, Jung-El Ryu2,3, Seok Daniel Namgung1
1School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea.
Nanoscale
|December 9, 2025
Summary
Proton-based neuromorphic devices mimic the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuromorphic Engineering
- Materials Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Neuromorphic systems emulate brain efficiency and learning.
- Ion-specific signaling (Na+, K+, H+) is vital for neural processes.
- Protonic devices replicate brain's ion-mediated synaptic signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- Classify switching mechanisms in protonic neuromorphic devices.
- Analyze device architectures and material resistance modulation.
- Highlight the role of proton-based mechanisms in neuromorphic hardware.
Main Methods:
- Review and classification of protonic switching mechanisms.
- Analysis of two- and three-terminal device architectures.
- Framework for understanding resistance modulation in different materials.
Main Results:
- Two main switching mechanisms identified: proton involvement and proton coupling.
- Proton involvement: field/environment-driven ionic motion.
- Proton coupling: proton interaction with other ions regulating redox activity.
Conclusions:
- Proton-based mechanisms are key to energy-efficient, adaptive neuromorphic hardware.
- Understanding ion-mediated processes, especially protonic ones, is crucial for brain-like intelligence.
- Proton mobility enables fast, low-power analog switching for biological mimicry.
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