Engineers at UMass Amherst have made a significant breakthrough by developing artificial neurons that closely mimic the electrical activity of natural neurons. This innovation, which utilizes protein nanowires derived from electricity-generating bacteria, could lead to more efficient computers that are compatible with biological systems.
“Our brain processes an enormous amount of data,” explained Shuai Fu, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering and the lead author of the study published in Nature Communications. “However, its energy consumption is remarkably low, especially when compared to the electricity needed to operate large language models like ChatGPT,” as noted by Science Daily.
The human body exhibits electrical efficiency that surpasses traditional computers by more than 100 times. While the brain utilizes approximately 20 watts for complex tasks, a large language model may require over one megawatt.
Reducing the voltage of artificial neurons to biological levels has been a primary challenge for engineers. “Previous versions of artificial neurons operated at voltages ten times higher and consumed a hundred times more energy than what we have developed,” stated Jun Yao, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and co-author of the study.
The newly developed artificial neuron operates at just 0.1 volts, which is similar to the voltage used by neurons in the human body, according to UMass Amherst.
Implications for Bio-inspired Technology
This advancement paves the way for bio-inspired computing systems and devices that can communicate directly with the human body, eliminating the need for energy-intensive electrical amplifiers that complicate circuits.
“Currently, we have various types of portable electronic detection systems,” Yao explained. “However, they are bulky and inefficient. Each time they detect a signal from the body, they must amplify it for a computer to analyze, which increases both energy consumption and circuit complexity. Our low-voltage neuron-based sensors could operate without amplification.”
The secret to this innovation lies in a protein nanowire sourced from Geobacter sulfurreducens, a bacterium recognized for its ability to produce electricity. This material has also facilitated the creation of biofilms powered by sweat, electronic noses capable of diagnosing diseases, and devices that harness energy from the air.
This research received funding from the U.S. Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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