Spikeling: A low-cost hardware implementation of a spiking neuron for neuroscience teaching and outreach.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how neurons encode and compute information is fundamental to our study of the brain, but opportunities for hands-on experience with neurophysiological techniques on live neurons are scarce in science education. Here, we present Spikeling, an open source in silico implementation of a spiking neuron that costs £25 and mimics a wide range of neuronal behaviours for classroom education and public neuroscience outreach. Spikeling is based on an Arduino microcontroller running the computationally efficient Izhikevich model of a spiking neuron. The microcontroller is connected to input ports that simulate synaptic excitation or inhibition, to dials controlling current injection and noise levels, to a photodiode that makes Spikeling light sensitive, and to a light-emitting diode (LED

SUBMITTER: Baden T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6221365 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature