
Image by: Guy Rachmuth
Chi-Sang Poon Et al. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have reported to have designed a silicon chip capabilile of simulating a brain synapse between two neurons. This technology's key function is the emulation of neuro plascitity, the unique method in which synapses "learn and "adapt" to new information. The goal is to model and thus gain a greater understanding of how the human brain works. While the direct products off this chip is to help advance cognitive science and human/computer interfacing technology, it's potential applications to Artificial Intelligence can not be overlooked. But keep in mind, it's still a far cry from the billions of synapses that are maintained in a regular human brain.