A carbon nanotube cortical neuron with excitatory and inhibitory dendritic computations

Abstract

A cortical neuron with carbon nanotube circuit elements that performs nonlinear dendritic computations with excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials is presented. An inhibitory synapse with controllable parameters that implement plasticity is described. The circuit design was simulated using carbon nanotube spice models, showing that the neuron fires as long as the inhibitory post-synaptic potential is weak or absent. Strong inhibitory potentials prevent the neuron from firing.