A VLSI circuit for recreating living nerve networks

Using conventional CMOS VLSI technology, a comprehensive neuromime circuit has been implemented based on the discrete model by French and Stein (1970). The circuit occupies under 0.5 mm/sup 2/ of die area, plus a few passive biasing components, and offers continuously variable excitatory and inhibitory sensitivity refractoriness, and operating rate. The implementation provides free and continuous access to waveforms for membrane and threshold potentials. As such, it is amenable to many secondary behavioral characteristics, such as fatigue, postinhibitory rebound, accommodation, and facilitation. In VLSI form, it provides the economy, comprehensiveness, reliability, efficiency and convenience to support larger networks of artificial nerve cells.