Mimicking the brain -- in silicon: New computer chip models how neurons communicate with each other at synapses
Source: Science Daily: Mind and Brain
For decades, scientists have dreamed of building computer systems that could replicate the human brain's talent for learning new tasks. Researchers have now taken a major step toward that goal by designing a computer chip that mimics how the brain's neurons adapt in response to new information. This phenomenon, known as plasticity, is believed to underlie many brain functions, including learning and memory.