Characterization of a Silicon Pyramidal Neuron

The Silicon Neuron is an analog VLSI circuit that has the functional characteristics of real neurons. The circuit emulates many of the ion conductances that generate action potentials and control the dynamics of their discharge. The ion conductances are modeled according to the Hodgkin-Huxley principles. The voltage dependence of the ion channels is achieved by a transconductance ampliier that has a sigmoidal steady-state current voltage relation similar to that observed in biological active membrane channel conductances. The temporal dynamics of the conductances are emulated by a follower integrator. Intra-cellular calcium concentrations are also emulated, and used to obtain spike frequency adaptation in various forms, similar to real neurons. The parameters of the various circuits can be set so that the general Silicon Neuron circuit emulates a particular class of biological neurons. In this paper, we describe how the silicon neuron can be conngured to emulate a neocortical pyramidal cell.