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takyon writes:

Researchers have created an artificial synapse that requires just 1.23 × 10^-15 Joules per "synaptic event":

An artificial synapse that emulates a biological synapse while requiring less energy has been developed by Pohang University Of Science & Technology (POSTECH) researchers in Korea. A human synapse consumes an extremely small amount of energy (~10 fJ or femtojoules per synaptic event), and an entire human brain consumes only as much energy as a domestic light bulb, but can outperform a supercomputer in many aspects, according to the researchers.

The researchers have fabricated an organic nanofiber (ONF), or organic nanowire (ONW), electronic device that emulates the important working principles and energy consumption of biological synapses while requiring only ~1 fJ per synaptic event. The ONW also emulates the morphology (form) of a synapse. [...] The researchers say they have emulated important working principles of a biological synapse, such as paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term plasticity (STP), long-term plasticity (LTP), spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), and spike-rate dependent plasticity (SRDP).

Organic core-sheath nanowire artificial synapses with femtojoule energy consumption (open, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1501326)

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