Neuron-Silicon Self-Excitation: A Prototype of Iono-Electronics

A first step towards neuronal microprosthetics has been taken by implementing a system of neuronal self-excitation on a silicon chip. This exercise demonstrates that integration of the microelectronics of semiconductors with the ionics of nerve cells can be achieved on a microscopic level. This may be the starting point for far reaching developments in biomedical and computational applications where non-invasive interaction of microelectronic devices and neuronal systems is essential.