Abstract
A superconducting Josephson junction may be used to model the behavior of a biological neuron, but on a much faster time scale. I first list the properties of the biological neuron to be modeled, then introduce the Josephson effect, and finally describe how the properties of the Josephson junction model neuron correspond to the properties of the biological neuron. An important advantage of the Josephson, junction model neuron compared to the biological neuron is its speed. A Josephson junction model neuron functions on a 10-9 to 10-12 second time scale, whereas the biological neuron functions on a 10-3 second time scale.
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References
The neuristor active transmission line was proposed by H.D. Crane, Proc. IRE 50, 2048 (1962). For references to the extensive literature on this subject, see the articles by L.S. Hoel, W.H. Keller, J.E. Nordman and A.C. Scott, Solid State Electron, 15, 1167 (1972), and by N.J. Elias and M.S. Ghausi, J. Franklin Institute, 293, 421 (1972).
The neuristor has been generalized by Hoel et al.1 from one dimension to two dimensions, and a model built to illustrate the modes of oscillation possible in the two dimensional system. Although discrete Josephson junctions were used in this model, the emphasis was on modelling the multimode oscillatory behavior of a continuous two dimensional neuristor active transmission line, rather than on modeling a neuron network in which each of the Josephson junctions modeled the behavior of a biological neuron.
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The model neuron differs, however, from the biological neuron in the following respect: during the dead time of a biological neuron, inputs that would have caused the PSP to exceed the threshold do not cause the biological neuron to fire.
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Other techniques may be used to weakly connect two superconductors. These techniques include point contacts, crossed wires, thin film microbridges, proximity effect weakened microbridges, pressed superconducting powders. The technique most suitable for initial studies of the neuron model probably is the point contact technique, because of the suitable values of the inductance and capacitance presented to the junction.o thousand Å.)
As mentioned earlier, it may be convenient to interconnect the model neurons with active transmission lines (“neuristors”) which transmit fixed amplitude pulses, while resupplying the energy lost during transmission, in a manner similar to that of the biological axon.
Numerical experiments with this equation are in progress, and will be reported in another publication: B.T. Ulrich, in preparation.
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Ulrich, B.T. (1974). Model Neuron Based on the Josephson Effect. In: Conrad, M., Güttinger, W., Dal Cin, M. (eds) Physics and Mathematics of the Nervous System. Lecture Notes in Biomathematics, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80885-2_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80885-2_18
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