INTERFACING NEURONS AND SILICON BY ELECTRICAL INDUCTION

Direct electrical coupling of a nerve cell and silicon microstructures is achieved by electrical induction without electrochemical current a cross the silicon/electrolyte interface. A field-effect transistor wit h an insulated open gate detects the action potential of an attached n euron. A voltage step applied to a silicon microelectrode elicits an a ction potential through an insulating film of silicon dioxide. The ele ctrical aspects of the neuron-silicon junctions are described by a rep resentative circuit. its capacitive and resistive components are deter mined by AC-signals using patch-clamp technique. A spatially resolved picture of a junction is obtained by placing an array of closely packe d transistors beneath a single neuron. The cable theory is used to des cribe the extended region of adhesion. Aspects of a further developmen t of the systems and of their application are considered.