Premium
Lymnaea stagnalis and the development of neuroelectronic technologies
Author(s) -
Birmingham John T.,
Graham Dustin M.,
Tauck David L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.20022
Subject(s) - lymnaea stagnalis , lymnaea , neuroscience , synaptogenesis , biological neural network , computer science , synapse , electronic circuit , biology , snail , engineering , electrical engineering , ecology
Abstract The recent development of techniques for stimulating and recording from individual neurons grown on semiconductor chips has ushered in a new era in the field of neuroelectronics. Using this approach to construct complex neural circuits on silicon from individual neurons will require improvements at the neuron/semiconductor interface and advances in controlling synaptogenesis. Although devices incorporating vertebrate neurons may be an ultimate goal, initial investigations using neurons from the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis have distinct advantages. Simple two‐cell networks connected by electrical synapses have already been reconstructed on semiconductor chips. Furthermore, considerable progress has been made in controlling the processes that underlie chemical synapse formation in Lymnaea . Studies of Lymnaea neural networks on silicon chips will lead to a deeper understanding of the long‐term dynamics of simple neural circuits and may provide the basis for reliable interfaces for new neuroprosthetic devices. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.