Beta lobe neurons. Credit: NICHD / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed artificial neurons that closely replicate the electrical activity of those in the human brain — a breakthrough that could lead to a new generation of energy-efficient computing systems designed with biological principles. These artificial neurons are expected to significantly boost computers by mimicking how the brain processes information, while consuming a fraction of the power.
Unlike traditional computer circuits, which require high voltage and considerable energy, the team’s artificial neurons operate at just 0.1 volts — the same level as natural neurons in the body.
The development builds on earlier research using protein nanowires made from Geobacter sulfurreducens, a bacteria known for generating electricity. These nanowires serve as the core material enabling the neuron’s low power operation.
Breakthrough in low-voltage computing
The discovery addresses a longstanding challenge in the field: maintaining low voltage while preserving functionality. According to Jun Yao, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and senior author of the study, earlier models of artificial neurons consumed 10 times more voltage and up to 100 times more power.
That made them impractical for real-world applications and incompatible with living cells due to their high electrical amplitude.
SCIENTISTS BUILD ARTIFICIAL NEURONS THAT THINK LIKE THE REAL ONES
In a discovery that sounds straight out of science fiction, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have created artificial neurons that work almost exactly like the ones in your brain.
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Shuai Fu, a graduate researcher and lead author of the study published in Nature Communications, explained that while the human brain handles vast amounts of data every second, it does so using only about 20 watts of power.
In comparison, running a large language model for a similar task could consume more than a megawatt. This contrast highlights the potential of biologically inspired circuits in designing far more efficient computing systems.
Potential for wearables and biotech devices
Beyond boosting computers, the low-power neurons open the door to devices that can interface directly with biological systems.
Yao said many current wearable electronics require complex circuitry to amplify bodily signals before they can be processed by machines. He noted that sensors built with the new neurons could eliminate that extra step, making devices smaller, simpler and more power-efficient.
The bacteria-based nanowire has already been used by the research team in other innovations, including a wearable biofilm that generates electricity from sweat and sensors capable of detecting disease through scent. The same material is also part of a device that can harvest power from the air.
The project received support from the Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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