%0 Generic
%A Millner, Sebastian
%D 2012
%F heidok:13979
%R 10.11588/heidok.00013979
%T Development of a Multi-Compartment Neuron Model Emulation
%U https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/13979/
%X This work describes the design of an analog circuit emulating a multi-compartment neuron model on a microchip. Initially, the single-compartment adaptive exponential integrate-and-fire neuron model is implemented as a hardware model. Therefor, the differential equations describing the model dynamics are directly translated into an electronic circuit based on operational transconductance amplifiers. Consequently a close correspondence between model and circuit is achieved enabling references to experiments done with computer simulators. 512 of these neurons are implemented on a single micro-chip. Individual control of each neuron’s biases is achieved by the use of analog floating-gate memory. In most cases, these biases directly correspondent to parameters of the model, hence simple translations are possible.  The single neuron implementation has been verified on a prototype chip in several experiments. Inter alia, its capabilities of reproducing biological neuron’s behavior and the influence of fixed-pattern noise on the circuit are analyzed.  To step over to a multi-compartment circuit, the neuron has been enhanced by a resistive element and a routing network to build complex dendrite structures. Furthermore, the parameterization allows compartments of different sizes covering large somatic and small dendritic compartments. A dedicated test chip has been designed for the verification of the new model. Several simulations show the enhanced behavior of the multi-compartment emulation including dendritic attenuation and active spike propagation.  The neuron circuits are dedicated for a new kind of computer based on the cortex.