McGill University researchers have developed a light-detecting nanoscale structure that mimics how a neuron processes information. The neuron-like behavior emerges from the materials themselves, reducing the energy demand associated with similar devices that rely on circuits or software.
Instead of capturing data first and processing it elsewhere, the device senses and interprets light in the same place, similar to how the eye processes visual information.
The researchers say the discovery could increase the efficiency of vision-based technologies like artificial retinas and smart optical sensors. It could also transform how artificial neural networks (ANNs), a foundation of machine learning, are built. The research is published in the journal Nanoscale.
"In our paper, using unique materials and nanostructure, we made for the first time a device that can closely mimic the neuron dynamics we'd see in a biological context," said Songrui Zhao, lead author and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
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